In addition to the Echo Show 15, Amazon presented today (28) its first robot, Astro, which has Alexa, but also has its own personality. The new device on wheels can follow you as you're walking around the house, using a combination of software and artificial intelligence to serve its owners, so having the same name as the Jetsons' dog makes perfect sense.
Astro's personality goes far
The team responsible for developing the robot tried to think about the ways it could be useful, without simply creating a version on wheels of the Echo Show 10. Its basic functions are to keep an eye on your home, and also to help unite your family. If kids won't sit still on a video call, how about a screen that can chase after them if they walk away?
Speaking of walking away, this is an independent robot, which recognizes where it is and manages to avoid accidents like falling down a ladder, for example. We are talking about a robot that counts SLAM (simultaneous localization and mapping) advances, and thus manages to map the environment in real time.
In addition, like the Echo Show 15, the Astro robot has the Visual ID feature, which allows you to identify which person in the house is interacting with it. Amazon has tried to make this interaction as natural as possible. To make Astro's movements, synchronizing his eyes on the screen, references from films, series, games and animations were used.
A home safety device on wheels
Astro is compatible with Ring devices, and using the Ring Protect Pro subscription service, you can even make a tour of your home, making sure everything is in order. For this, Astro uses a periscope camera, which allows him to have a higher and clearer view of his apartment, and can send an alert if he recognizes a stranger walking through his house.
Like other Echo devices, it has Alexa Guard, a home security feature that can listen for fire or gas alarms, and even the sound of breaking glass, and notify the user right away. In addition, Astro can also be a good companion for seniors who live alone, routines that can be customized for sending alerts.
Click below to see Amazon Astro's introductory video, as friendly as the robot itself.
In the next video, engineers and others from the team responsible for creating Astro talk about the technological challenges of the Amazon robot, be sure to watch.
Read more:
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- Amazon Echo Show 10 arrives in Brazil screen that rotates alone for R $ 1,9
Astro will be released for US$1.000
The Astro reminds me a lot of a robot that Asus introduced several years ago, but which ended up not becoming a commercial product. Astro, the story is different. Amazon's intelligent robot will be launched at a promotional price of US$ 1.000 (about R$ 5.437), and registration for those interested starts today in the United States. Its official price, however, is much more expensive, US$ 1.500 (R$ 8.149).
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