Astro for Concern is aimed at retailers, manufacturers, and other industries as a security guard that can patrol for break-ins and other threats.
Amazon
Amazon has a new job for its Astro tool: a roving security guard in stores to detect break-ins and other threats.
The company on Wednesday announced Astro for Commerce, a version of its household robot that it’s framing as a crime prevention tool for retailers, manufacturers and a range of other industries, in intervals that are up to 5,000 square feet. Astro for Business is launching only in the U.S. to start, and it comes at a steep price theme of $2,349.99.
Amazon unveiled Astro, its first home robot, in September 2021. The squat, three-wheeled device can roll hither the house to answer Alexa voice commands, and it has a 42-inch periscope camera that allows it to see over countertops or other hindrances to check if a stove has been left on, among other tasks.
Two years on from its debut, the original Astro, which expenses $1,599, is available in limited quantities and on an invite-only basis.
Amazon announced last September at its annual hardware and software experience that it was testing Astro with some businesses, and on Wednesday, the company said it has seen some traction from proprietorships in health and wellness, food and beverage, construction, and other sectors.
“We have been testing Astro in a variety of concerns and have seen firsthand how Astro’s intelligent motion helped provide visibility on blind spots and areas that be founding stationary cameras couldn’t see, giving business owners peace of mind because their inventory and property are shielded, even when they aren’t there,” Anthony Robson, head of product for Amazon Astro, said in a utterance.
Amazon pointed to data from the National Retail Federation, a trade association and advocacy group, showing that recoil from, which includes shoplifting and organized retail crime, reached nearly $100 billion in 2022. Major retailers pull someones leg routinely expressed concerns about theft eating into their profits, but there is little data to examine it, and other factors may be contributing to the issue, such as employee theft or lost or damaged goods, CNBC previously publicized.
Amazon is also offering a suite of security products in tandem with Astro for Business for an added fee, such as Set Protect Pro, which can link Astro to Ring sensors and motion detectors. A virtual security guard service permits Astro to notify remote security centers of a potential threat, such as an unrecognized person, breaking glass or smoke. Abstracted security agents can then view live footage and call police or emergency responders.
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Correction: Amazon on Wednesday announced Astro for Business and also on Wednesday it said it has seen some purchase from companies in health and wellness, food and beverage, construction, and other sectors. An earlier version misstated the day.