USA: Amazon wants to sell small robots to companies as security cameras

Amazon has found a job for its home robot Astro, which was introduced two years ago: a small winding machine with a camera and display that will be on patrol in small and medium-sized businesses such as shopping stores.

The rolling surveillance camera isn’t cheap: The robot costs about $2,350 in its “Astro for Business” program, Amazon announced Wednesday. You also have to pay $80 a month for subscriptions that allow you, for example, to save recordings for six months or send the bot on certain routes.

For an additional $99 per month, Astro can also call security when a fire alarm sounds or glass breaks, who will call the police if necessary. The camera can extend to a height of more than 1 meter so that it can also look into furniture. The robot can cover good areas of 460 square meters for a room layout. The business offer is initially only available in the USA.

Astro is roughly the size of a vacuum cleaner, can be operated by voice and has already managed to take over the house. Amazon has so far only sold the device in small quantities in the US to individuals for around $1,600 and has described it primarily as a family companion, for example, for older family members.

SDA