After lower than eight months, Amazon has discontinued the enterprise model of its Astro safety robotic. GeekWire reported on Wednesday that regardless of being “absolutely dedicated” to its house robotics division, the corporate has discontinued the higher-end mannequin that doubled as a safety guard for areas as massive as 5,000 sq. ft.
Amazon launched Astro for Enterprise in November 2023, pitching it as a office safety robotic. The $2,350 screen-on-wheels had an HD periscope and a tangled internet of subscription varieties and tiers, together with Ring Shield Professional, Astro Safety and Digital Safety Guard memberships. Instantly, solely lasting about eight months doesn’t sound so stunning.
An Amazon spokesperson instructed GeekWire that it hasn’t laid folks off due to Astro for Enterprise’ demise, and the corporate plans to divert assets into its house robotics work. The patron model of Astro, launched in 2021, remains to be accessible (invite-only) for $1,600. Panos Panay, the previous Microsoft Floor (and far more) guru, joined the corporate to go up its Gadgets & Companies division final yr, which incorporates shopper robotics work.
Though Astro’s house model isn’t a full-fledged safety guard alternative, it could possibly patrol your property and warn you if it sees somebody it doesn’t acknowledge or hears breaking glass or alarms. It may well additionally do issues of sketchier worth, like comply with you round with music, ship messages to different folks and set timers — most of which could be duplicated by units that value a lot much less.
