During an online event on 28 September 2021, Amazon unveiled its first home robot. Astro is as small as a vacuum cleaner and has a display that forms its head. It is supposed to take over household tasks – as reported by SPIEGEL ONLINE. It can drive around the house when the residents are away, sending them live images. It should be able to recognize the sound of shattering glass and alarm signals from smoke detectors – so it would have functions familiar from security robots. Furthermore, it should be possible to keep in touch with older relatives via Astro. Its camera can be extended so that it is at eye level and can also look over obstacles. Of course, the robot also offers an interface to Alexa. Unlike Elon Musk’s Optimus, Astro is already a product. However, it is a product that can initially only be purchased in the US and only after an application.
BY OLIVER BENDEL
