Oh, tiny Astro security guard, we hardly new ye. First reported by GeekWire, Amazon is discontinuing its Astro for Business model, less than a year after its debut. Launched in November of 2023, Astro for Business was advertised as a $2,350 robot that automatically patrolled an area as large as 5000 square feet, recording video and alerting security when necessary via an Astro Security subscription. That steep upfront price only included four months of the Astro Security and Ring Protect Pro subscription, so it doesn’t come as much of a surprise that it may not have been a hit with small business owners.
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In a statement to The Verge, Amazon says it remains committed to its home robotics division. The company has clarified that its Astro for Home model will continue to be available, and its latest statement hints that an updated version of its home model may be on the way.
“We are fully committed to our vision of bringing world-class consumer robotics solutions to the home,” Amazon told The Verge. “To accelerate our progress and ongoing research to make Astro the best in-home robot, we’ve made the decision to wind down support for Astro for Business. We’re excited about the in-home experiences we’re inventing for Astro, and look forward to sharing more in the future.”
The following was originally published November 17, 2023:
Amazon’s Astro home robot has been somewhat “available” for a few years now through an invite-only system, but has yet to really find a market. After testing Astro for business contexts this year, Amazon is making the robot more widely available for the first time as “Astro for Business.”
Retooled for patrolling small to medium-sized business, Astro for Business comes bundled with four months of Ring Protect Pro and Astro Security subscriptions. Ring Protect Pro allows Astro to save video history for up to 180 days, as well as sync the robot with Ring Alarm to link motion detectors and window and door alarm sensors for alerts when an alarm is triggered. An Astro Security subscription gives Astro access to security features like smart alerts, custom patrol routes, and scheduled patrols.
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Amazon is calling Astro for Business “a security solution for small and medium-sized businesses that combines robotics, smart security, and artificial intelligence (AI). ”
“Security continues to be a headache for business owners. According to the National Retail Federation, businesses have faced losses of nearly $100 billion in 2022. But traditional security solutions can be too static or expensive for what businesses need. We think Astro for Business can help with that,” said Anthony Robson, head of product for Amazon Astro. “We have been testing Astro in a variety of businesses and have seen firsthand how Astro’s intelligent motion helped provide visibility on blind spots and areas that existing stationary cameras couldn’t see, giving business owners peace of mind because their inventory and property are protected, even when they aren’t there.”
Astro for Business can patrol businesses that are up to 5000 square feet, and is available now for the price of $2,349.
