[bhpm]

There are a few keywords in this article that make me think this isn’t coming to a home near you any time soon:

“eventually.” “Plus software overhead” … “Amazon.”

For that last one, keep in mind that Amazon can afford to invest millions to billions and also totally control the working environment. Warehouse workers are practically robots already with the structure that is imposed on their work. A home isn’t like that.

[bluGill]

Except that some of the investment that Amazon does goes to code that is also useful for the home robot. Amazon can afford it - probably saves money - so they make the investment. then they come along later and realize that the home robot is in some way affordable as so many of the parts needed already exist.

Of course I cannot say when it will affordable. It may be Amazon has to solve the last remaining hard problems and then the R&D is paid for: all that remains is packaging and marketing, it may be thousands of hard problems remain. (I'm guessing someplace in between) I also don't state what the home robot will do. May the home robot just picks up the kids toys when they are done but can't do laundry - even though I want the laundry robot more the toys only one is still useful.

[bhpm]

Amazon already has a robot for the home. It’s not even compatible with round edges or black floors. This makes me think the technology has a long way to go.

[bluGill]

The question is robots (in general, maybe not theirs) only a few more developments away from ready for those things or not?