Amazon is offering its Astro robot to businesses for $2,350 as an attempt to find success after a slow take-off among consumers.
Amazon Astro Robot
Amazon initially launched Astro in 2021 as a Jetsons-like vision of a robot that is capable of handling household tasks. The device was marketed for $1,600 which featured a wheeled device that has a flat-screen display and a periscope camera. Astro also supports Alexa and can respond to voice commands. However, the company had some challenges in shipping the robot in large quantities.
The new business version is designed to patrol as a security guard. The robot also comes with a $60 per month subscription to Astro Secure. According to Amazon, the subscription will allow the robot to roam in areas on its own. The new Astro can cover up to 5,000 square feet (465 square meters), which is an upgrade from the 3,500 square feet coverage of the consumer version.
The company is also bundling it with a Ring Protect Pro feature that will allow the robot to store security footage, this costs $20 a month. Businesses can also avail of the automatic emergency services for only $99 per month, which will get activated if an issue is detected within the device. Both the Astro Secure and Ring Protect Pro will offer a 120-day free trial upon purchase.
Amazon Promises Protected Privacy With Astro
Despite being designed as a patrol guard that is equipped with a bunch of surveillance features, Amazon assured that the robot is made to protect the users' privacy.
"With the Astro app, you control where Astro can and can't patrol, to better protect privacy. And, you can turn off mics, and cameras with one press of a button," the company wrote.
Regardless, the robot is advertised as an effective way to get notified if there is a potential intrusion. Instead of going out yourself, Astro can go and investigate the unwanted activity.
However, Amazon reminded that Astro is intended for indoor use only and the robot is not designed to go up or down the stairs. Currently, the company also sells one per customer and does not allow multi-device but it seems that the company is still finalizing its decision to open a multi-device support for businesses.
