Astro isn’t just Alexa on wheels.
Chris Monroe/CNET
Amazon’s Astro is the first robot designed for your home and powered by the voice assistant Alexa (although it also has its own little personality). While the idea of ”Alexa on wheels” might scare a lot of people — and I agree — this little robot is capable, smart, and cute as a button.
But what is it really capable of?
Can Astro get me an ice cold beer from the fridge? Will it vacuum as it roams around my house? You ask the tough questions and we have the answers. Here’s what you need to know.
Read more: Amazon Astro maps your home in minutes. here’s how
How much does Astro cost?
Amazon sells Astro for a starting price of $1,000, making it much more expensive than other Alexa-enabled smart devices. Once it exits early access, that price will rise to $1,450.
Where can I buy Astro?
Astro is still available by invitation only. You can sign up today to request an invite.
Is Astro Like Disney’s Wall-E?
Wall-E is cute. Astro is cute. They don’t have much in common anymore. While Wall-E and Astro both communicate with simple robotic beeps and buzzes, Astro has Alexa’s added functionality, including the ability to answer questions, respond to commands, and tell jokes — though Astro’s personality is different from Alexa’s.
Besides, we don’t live in a dystopian future with Astro as the only remaining inhabitant on Earth, cleaning up the immense garbage pile that humans left behind before they took society into space…at least not yet.
Want to know more about Astro’s personality? Read our ongoing review of Astro.
Is Astro a nod to The Jetsons?
Yes! Good catch. Amazon’s newest robot bears the same name as the loving family dog from The Jetsons. However, Astro’s advanced technology, voice, design, and rolling motion make it much more similar to Rosey, the Jetson family’s robot maid and housekeeper, than to the four-legged Astro.
Astro is battery powered and will return itself to its charging station when it runs low.
Chris Monroe/CNET
Can Astro climb stairs?
While Astro is packed with fun features, a pair of legs isn’t one of them. Astro can’t climb stairs at the moment, so for now it can only work on one level of the house.
However, be careful. Recent reports have stated that Amazon sources who worked on building the robot said Astro doesn’t handle stairs well and will definitely “throw” itself off the stairs “if the opportunity presents itself.” (Seems Astro has a flair for the dramatic, right?) That said, we’ve yet to experience this flaw in our own tests — and Astro’s navigation just keeps getting better.
Is Astro also a vacuum?
No Unfortunately. But just like a robot vacuum, Astro has an array of sensors, cameras, and map technology that let the robot know where it is in your home and what’s going on around it. In addition, Astro runs on batteries and returns to its charging station when it is almost empty. In other words, Astro is very much like a robot vacuum cleaner… minus the whole thing that vacuums your floor.
Shall I trip over Astro?
You’re already tripping over your kids’ Legos, dog toys, and that pair of shoes that magically appear in the most inconvenient places, so what’s another tripping hazard? In defense, Astro makes a buzzing noise when it moves, so you should hear it before it sneaks up behind you.
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Can Astro call 911 if I trip over it?
Yes.
Will Astro bring me a beer?
Yes – and any other drink for that matter. Astro has built-in cup holders on the back, so he can bring any drink of his choice. The only caveat, though, is that it doesn’t have arms, so someone else would have to load it.
Is Astro’s release the start of a Black Mirror episode?
I’d rather not watch a season of Black Mirror produced by Amazon, but I guess we’ll just have to wait and see…
This post Amazon Astro FAQ: Can Astro get me a beer? And other really important questions
was original published at “https://www.cnet.com/home/smart-home/amazon-astro-faq-can-astro-get-me-a-beer-and-other-really-important-questions/#ftag=CAD590a51e”