If you have already heard about the Amazon Astro home security robot, then I believe you want to know more about it. In this article, we will be looking at the robot and everything there is to know about it.
If you have ever used Alexa Echo Show or similar smart home devices, you will bear with me that they are very brilliant devices. While most of them do not move, they can still help you solve many tasks.
Amazon created something more advanced than the regular Alexa smart home devices we know. This one can move around and still perform like the Alexa devices we already know.
Let us take a quick look at what this device looks like and what it can do.
What is Amazon Astro?
Amazon Astro which according to some leaked documents is also known by the code name ‘Vesta’ is a smart home robot. The robot was designed with the aim of keeping the customer’s home safe.
By keeping the customer’s home safe, I mean identifying and investigating strangers. The robot is also designed to identify strange sounds and investigate them.
You can imagine this robot as the latest version of Alexa on wheels with more cameras and sensors to pay more attention to the environment.
Amazon Astro Features
What are some of the features you can get on this Amazon robot that you don’t already have on Alexa?
Basically, there are so many features that are in this robot that you can never get on Alexa. Even tho there are some controversies around the robot, it is still more advanced than a mere smart home device.
Below are some of the key features you can expect from the Amazon robot.
Alexa accessibility
As I said earlier, Amazon Astro is an Alexa on wheels. This means that you can do anything you use to do with Alexa with your robot.
You can play music, create schedules and control all other smart devices from the robot. All you have to do is to give that single command and it will obey.
Home monitoring
You can use this Amazon robot as a home monitoring system. In fact, the top priority of the robot is the home monitoring feature.
If you are not at home, you can use it along with other security cameras like the Ring cameras to keep an eye on your home. This robot uses noise detection technology to detect strange noises and patrol the areas to see if there is something strange there.
You can also access the live footage from anywhere you are on your smartphone.
Periscope camera
The robot comes with a camera on a retractable pole right on its head. This camera allows it to see things on both low and high levels.
Where ever you will command this robot to go check, it will go and scan the entire area. Basically, if you leave this bot at home, it is like you have a pair of eyes behind that still keeps a watch over your home.
Privacy sense
The Astro smart home robot respects your privacy so there are spaces in the house that you could set as off-bounds for it. For instance, you could set it never to the bathroom, bedroom, etc.
This is to ensure that even though you have a home monitoring device, you still have your privacy.
Auto-charging
The bot comes with a charging bay. This change will be recognized by the bot and whenever it is running out of power, it matches straight to the bay and charges itself.
You do not have to worry about it running out of battery when you are not around. Unless of course, your whole house does not have electricity for some time.
Compartment
Oh yeah! You do not have only an extra pair of eyes, you have extra hands too. There is a compartment that can carry stuff like a bottle of drink, snack, or a cup. Not enough for heavy loads but at least you have someone to send to give a bottle of soda to someone in the living room while you are still in the kitchen.
You might want to check the Amazon support hub to know more about this robot
Amazon Astro price and how to purchase
As of September 2022, the Amazon Astro robot has officially been released. However, you can only purchase in the USA, and is strictly by invitation.
You can purchase Amazon Astro at $999.99 and it is strictly by invitation.
How to purchase
You must be in the USA in order to go through the purchasing process. This item can not be shipped to any address outside of the USA. If you are within the USA, then you can go through the process.
- Log into your Amazon account and go to the Astro purchase page.
- Click on the “Request Invitation” button at the right side of the page
- Go through the invitation request survey and answer all the questions that are required. You must also note that answering the questions does not guarantee you getting an invitation.
If you are selected, you will receive the invitation and you will be able to get access to the product page where you can place your order.
Amazon Astro Controversies
There have been claims about leaked documents that show how Amazon Astro is complete trash and not worth $999.99.
One major focus of this controversy is the fact that the Astro robot can not go upstairs or downstairs. Most people do claim that it can throw itself off the stairs. Of course, it is true.
But one thing most of these claims are ignoring is the fact that the user has the right to configure the robot how they want. It does not come configured to know every corner of your house. Apart from that, Amazon stated clearly on the Astro page that it can not go up or down stairs.
I see this as an amazing robot. Even the Alexa that we all love didn’t become intelligent in the first phase. It takes time to improve AI so we only have to hope there will be improvements to the Astro in future releases.
If you are also concerned too much about the price compared to the features, It is very easy. That is how Amazon decided to sell it because only the manufacturer knows the cost involved in creating it.