Amazon.com Inc (AMZN.O) introduced a domestic canine-like robot named Astro on Tuesday, as well as a partnership with Walt Disney Co(DIS.N) to embed its voice-controlled technology in resort hotels, in an effort to make its virtual assistant Alexa a bigger part of people’s lives.
The home robot can perform activities such as home monitoring, routines, and reminders, as well as play music and TV shows while rolling around the house. The device, which has digital eyeballs on a rotating screen set on wheels, costs $999.99 for invite-only pricing and $1,449.99 for a standard price. A smart thermostat, smart display Echo Show 15, and a new health-tracking band dubbed Halo View were among the latest additions to the company’s range.
The Echo Show 15 can be wall-mounted and is powered by the AZ2 Neural Edge processor, which allows users to customize the screen. Amazon Glow, a device for playing games, reading, or sketching while on a video conversation, was created as part of the company’s effort to appeal to the next generation of customers – children.
It will launch an Alexa-powered voice assistant at Disney’s theme park hotels, as well as a premium product that allows users to engage with Disney characters at home, as part of its cooperation with Disney. The ‘Hey, Disney!’ feature is set to come next year and will allow users to interact with Disney characters. ‘Â
Every year, Amazon introduces a slew of new products, including voice-controlled sunglasses and an in-home drone, but none of them have proven to be big sales. Amazon’s overall sales are made up of a small percentage of devices.
