SUMMARY
The Consumer Robotics Division launched its first consumer robot Astro last year
The company wants to build more consumer robots
The centre in Bengaluru will help Amazon create better consumer robotics experiences for customers worldwide: Amazon Spokesperson
Ecommerce giant Amazon has revealed that it will open a Consumer Robotics Software Development Center in Bengaluru recently. With this new centre, the ecommerce company wants to support its Consumer Robotics division.
The Consumer Robotics Division launched its first consumer robot Astro last year. It was designed to help customers with a range of tasks including home monitoring and keeping in touch with family.
Astro brings together new advancements in artificial intelligence, computer vision, sensor technology, and voice and edge computing, according to a company statement.
“Last year we unveiled our first consumer robot, but it certainly will not be our last. This new Consumer Robotics Software Development Center will help support our growing consumer robotics division and attract top talent to work on world-class technology products,” Ken Washington, vice president, Consumer Robotics, Amazon, said.
Terming India as an ‘innovation hub’, Washington said the center in Bengaluru will help Amazon create better consumer robotics experiences for customers worldwide.
While Amazon is opening up a new support centre to push its robotics centre, its Astro is still available for a $1,000 invitation-only program. The company has not yet disclosed when the robot will be available for all shoppers.
Amazon’s initiative in India comes at a time when the robotics market in India is also on rise. According to data by Tracxn, there are 44 robotics startups in India as of March 2022.
Earlier this month, Tiger Global-backed Indian robotics firm GreyOrange raised $110 Mn. Other recent examples of startups raising funds in this segment include, Navikanz which raised $4 Mn; CynLr, which raised $4.5 Mn, and Haber, raising $20 Mn.
Meanwhile, India’s robotics market is estimated to reach 11,760 units by 2025, expanding at a CAGR of 14.41% between 2020 and 2025, according to a report. Overall, the global AI-powered robots market is estimated to touch $35.3 Bn from $6.9 Bn in 2021 by 2026, another report said.
