E-commerce giant Amazon announced Monday that it would open a new consumer robotics software development centre to build solutions for the world.

The India hub will help support Amazon’s international robotics division, which launched its first robot, Astro.
“Last year, we launched our first consumer robot, but it certainly won’t be our last. This new consumer robotics software development centre will help support our growing consumer robotics industry and provide the world with technological product appeal to top talent,” said Ken Washington, Amazon’s vice president of consumer robotics.

Astro is designed to help customers with a range of tasks, such as home monitoring and keeping in touch with family members. “India is an innovation hub, and having a hub here will help Amazon create a better consumer robotics experience for customers worldwide,” Washington added.

Astro comes with built-in Alexa and uses advanced navigation technology to find your way around your home. Users can send Astro remotely to check on a specific room, person or thing and get alerted if Astro detects unrecognisable people or certain sounds while they’re away.

“With the push of a button, you can turn off the microphone, camera and motion, and use the Astro app to set exclusion zones and let Astro know where you can’t go,” Amazon said.