Amazon Introduces Home Robot Solutions for Businesses

Recognizing the challenges in the home robotics sector, Amazon is now targeting a more corporate audience with its Astro robot. The company has unveiled Astro for Business, which transforms Astro into a security solution tailored for small and medium-sized businesses. This version of Astro introduces several advanced features, such as the ability to establish multiple security monitoring routes and send alerts in response to sounds like smoke and carbon monoxide alarms or breaking glass.

“Traditional security solutions can be too static or costly for the needs of businesses. We believe Astro for Business offers a valuable alternative,” stated Anthony Robson, head of product for Amazon Astro.

However, Astro for Business comes with a significant price tag, starting at $2,349.99. To fully utilize its capabilities, customers will also need to subscribe to additional services. For instance, to store video history and integrate Astro with Ring alarms and motion detectors, users must pay $20 per month for Ring Protect Pro. The robot’s patrol and alert system, known as Astro Secure, is available for $60 per month. For those requiring human monitoring and support, there is an additional charge of $99 per month, which also necessitates subscriptions to both Ring Protect Pro and Astro Secure.

Currently, Astro for Business is available only in the U.S. at launch and includes a four-month trial of Ring Protect Pro and Astro Secure. However, as costs mount, businesses must weigh the benefits against expenses.

Given its high price point, Astro for Business appears to be Amazon's strategy to maximize the potential of Astro, which was notably absent from the company’s recent devices and services showcase. Furthermore, with the recent departure of Amazon’s VP of consumer robotics, Ken Washington, and Astro remaining an invite-only product nearly two years after its initial reveal, some question the product’s direction. As my colleague Haje aptly noted, “Even Amazon can’t quite figure out what Astro is for.”

Robotics, AI, Amazon, Astro, Security Solutions