- [Astro] Astro robot dance.

- [Astro] Astro機器人舞蹈。

(upbeat music begins)

(歡快的音樂開始)

- A month ago, I welcomed a new addition to my household.

- 一個月前，我迎來了我家的一個新成員。

Now along with my husband, my two kids, one dog, one cat,

現在伴隨著我的丈夫，我的兩個孩子，一隻狗，一隻貓。

one bunny rabbit, and seven outdoor chickens,

一隻小兔子，和七隻戶外雞。

I've been living with an Astro, Amazon's first home robot.

我一直和亞馬遜的第一個家用機器人Astro生活在一起。

And it's designed to be a helpful assistant

而且它的設計是為了成為一個有幫助的助手

for your everyday life.

為你的日常生活服務。

It's essentially an autonomous Alexa

它本質上是一個自主的Alexa

on some souped up wheels,

在一些強化的車輪上。

and when it goes on sale it will cost $1,450.

而當它開始銷售時，它的價格將是1450美元。

But right now you can ask to road test the robot

但現在你可以要求對機器人進行路測

in your own home for the bargain price of a thousand bucks.

在你自己的家裡，以一千美元的低價出售。

As a very busy mom, wife,

作為一個非常忙碌的母親，妻子。

and full-time reviewer at The Verge,

和The Verge的全職評論員。

this robot has become that extra pair of eyes

這個機器人已經成為額外的一雙眼睛

I've always wanted to help keep track of my brood.

我一直想幫助記錄我的孩子們的情況。

But if only it could be an extra pair of hands as well.

但如果它也能成為一雙額外的手就好了。

Astro is a small robot, just under a foot and a half,

阿童木是一個小型機器人，只有不到一英尺半。

and it roams around your house largely at will,

而且它在你的房子裡大體上可以隨意漫遊。

tilting its face,

傾斜它的臉。

which is a 10 inch echo show style touchscreen,

這是一個10英寸的回聲表演式觸摸屏。

up and down disarmingly, and winking,

上下打量著，還眨著眼睛。

or smiling at you with its digital eyes.

或者用它的數字眼睛向你微笑。

Which are two glowing circles that resemble the Alexa ring

其中有兩個發光的圓圈，類似於亞歷克薩環。

on an echo smart speaker.

在一個回聲智能音箱上。

Two large white wheels make up most of its robot body,

兩個白色的大輪子構成了其機器人身體的大部分。

along with a small cargo area that yes can carry a beer.

伴隨著一個小的貨物區，是的可以攜帶啤酒。

Like a regular echo speaker,

像一個普通的回聲揚聲器。

you can ask Astro to play music through its two speakers,

你可以要求Astro通過其兩個揚聲器播放音樂。

set timers, stream an episode of Buffy, lock the front door,

設置定時器，播放一集《巴菲》，鎖上前門。

or call your mom for a video chat using a built in camera.

或使用內置攝像頭給你媽媽打電話進行視頻哈拉。

What's different, is it can do

不同的是，它可以做到

all of these things on the move.

所有這些東西都在移動。

As I'm roaming around the house, picking up shoes,

當我在屋子裡漫遊，撿拾鞋子時。

making dinner, feeding the dog, Astro could come with me

做晚飯，餵狗，阿童木可以和我一起去。

keeping me constantly entertained.

讓我不斷得到娛樂。

Well, in most rooms of the house.

嗯，在房子的大多數房間裡。

Dismissive Alexa on wheels comments aside,

撇開對車輪的不屑一顧的Alexa評論。

this is an actual robot.

這是一個真正的機器人。

Not a quasi home robot like most robot vacuums are.

不像大多數機器人吸塵器那樣是一個準家用機器人。

And unlike most Alexa speakers,

而且與大多數Alexa揚聲器不同。

Astro does a lot of its data processing

阿斯特羅做了大量的數據處理

in its own little brain rather than using the cloud.

在它自己的小腦袋裡，而不是使用雲。

This helps it be a lot snappier and a smidge more private.

這有助於它變得更敏捷，更有私密性。

Astro is packed with navigation and obstacle sensors,

阿童木配備了導航和障礙物傳感器。

that feed its visual simultaneous localization and mapping,

這為其視覺同步定位和映射提供了依據。

and obstacle avoidance systems,

和避障系統。

which in English means that after it's mapped your home,

這在英語中的意思是，在它繪製了你的家之後。

it can mosey around easily without backing into chairs,

它可以輕鬆地四處走動，而不會倒在椅子上。

tables or walls, or falling downstairs.

桌子或牆壁，或掉到樓下。

And it can seriously move.

而且它可以認真地移動。

It's way faster than robot vac.

它比機器人吸塵器快得多。

And while it's top speed is only one meter per second,

而且，雖然它的最高速度只有每秒一米。

that feels really fast in your living room.

這在你的客廳裡感覺真的很快。

It also never once got stuck

它也從未被卡住過

unlike every robot vacuum I have ever tested ever.

不像我曾經測試過的所有機器人吸塵器。

And while a robot vacuum

而且，雖然機器人吸塵器

is the closest comparison I have to Astro,

是我與阿斯特羅最接近的比較。

it uses similar mapping and navigation technology

它使用類似的地圖和導航技術

and I've spent a lot of time with robot vacuums,

而且我已經花了很多時間在機器人吸塵器上。

Astro is much much smarter.

阿童木要聰明得多。

First off it doesn't bang into my feet all the time.

首先，它不會一直撞到我的腳。

Instead it's able to follow me around

相反，它能夠跟著我到處跑

without getting in my way.

而不妨礙我的工作。

It rarely gets stuck.

它很少被卡住。

Besides that one time it came face to face

除了那一次面對面的接觸

with my daughter's standup base

與我女兒的站立式底座

and wisely sat motionless next to the $5,000 instrument,

並明智地坐在5000美元的儀器旁邊一動不動。

until I came and rescued it.

直到我來到這裡，把它救了出來。

It also maintains a respectable distance from dogs,

它還與狗保持著可敬的距離。

backpacks, and any other stuff

揹包，以及其他任何東西

that happens to be lying on the floor in its path,

恰好躺在地板上的東西在它的路徑上。

and just reroutes.

而只是改道。

When it's got nothing to do,

當它無事可做時。

it goes and finds a spot to hang out,

它走了，並找到一個地方掛出。

which used to be right in between my stove and fridge.

它以前就在我的爐子和冰箱之間。

And while it supposedly learns

雖然據說它可以學習

where you don't want it to be,

在你不希望它出現的地方。

it does appear to be something of a slow learner.

它看起來確實是一個緩慢的學習者。

When no one is around,

當週圍沒有人的時候。

it takes itself off to its charger to chill.

它把自己帶到充電器處冷藏。

All of this autonomous movement

所有這些自主運動

was actually the creepiest part

實際上是最令人毛骨悚然的部分

of having Astro in the house.

有阿童木在家裡。

It's big glowing eyes

它的大眼睛閃閃發光

would just suddenly appear over the couch,

就會突然出現在沙發上。

or I'd hear rumbling as it rolled over the carpet

或者我聽到它在地毯上滾動時的隆隆聲

onto the hardwood floor.

在硬木地板上。

It does take some getting used

這確實需要一些時間來適應

to having a robot free ranging in your home.

到有一個機器人在你的家裡自由活動。

So what's the point of Astro?

那麼，阿童木的意義何在？

That was the main question I had

這是我的主要問題

during my four weeks living with Amazon's bot.

在我與亞馬遜的機器人生活的四個星期裡。

While I enjoyed my entertainment moving around with me,

當我享受著我的娛樂活動與我一起移動時。

I live in a three storey house

我住在一個三層樓的房子裡

and this robot can't do stairs.

而這個機器人不能做樓梯。

A pair of decent headphones,

一副像樣的耳機。

or apple airplay is a better slash cheaper solution.

或者蘋果的airplay是一個更好的、更便宜的解決方案。

My kids enjoyed a few of the robot games

我的孩子們喜歡一些機器人遊戲

and my husband loved the idea

我丈夫很喜歡這個主意

of Astro delivering him a beer,

的阿斯特羅給他送啤酒。

but the beer fridge is outside where Astro can't go

但啤酒櫃在外面，阿斯特羅不能去。

and this robot has no hands.

而這個機器人沒有手。

The dog and cat Gus and Smokey,

狗和貓Gus和Smokey。

who were both deeply suspicious about Astro's existence,

他們都對阿斯特羅的存在深感懷疑。

did warm up a bit once it started throwing them treats

一旦它開始向他們投擲食物，確實有點暖和了。

from the Furbo pet camera we attached

來自於我們安裝的Furbo寵物相機

to Astro's USBC charging port.

到Astro的USBC充電端口。

But Furbo works perfectly fine when it's not sitting

但Furbo在不坐著的時候工作得非常好。

in a thousand dollar robot.

在一個一千美元的機器人中。

Astro definitely has more personality than Alexa

阿斯特羅肯定比亞歷克莎更有個性

which is not hard, but it's no Jibo.

這並不難，但它不是Jibo。

It's facial expressions are limited,

它的面部表情是有限的。

and it rarely does more than just widen its eyes,

而且它很少做更多的事情，只是睜大眼睛。

which really feels like a missed opportunity.

這真的讓人感覺錯過了一個機會。

I also didn't like that mostly it was Alexa that answered

我也不喜歡大多數情況下是Alexa在回答。

when we spoke to Astro.

當我們與阿斯特羅交談時。

- Astro show my ring doorbell camera.

- 阿童木展示我的環形門鈴攝像頭。

- [Astro] Okay.

- [Astro] 好的。

- [Jennifer] Astro itself has a very limited range

- [Jennifer]Astro本身的範圍非常有限

and no voice beyond a small series of bleeps and bloops.

除了一連串的嗶嗶聲和噗噗聲外，沒有任何聲音。

When you talk to it, 80% of the time Alexa responds

當你與它交談時，80%的時間Alexa會做出迴應

and does just normal Alexa stuff

並做正常的Alexa工作

that you can do with a hundred dollars smart display.

你可以用一百美元的智能顯示器來做。

- [Astro] A few things share the name front door doorbell,

- [Astro]有幾件事情共享前門門鈴的名字。

which one did you want?

你想要哪一個？

- The things Astro does better than Alexa

- Astro比Alexa做得更好的事情

are limited but they do exist.

雖然數量有限，但確實存在。

When you set a timer or a reminder,

當你設置了一個定時器或一個提醒。

it will come and find you to deliver it to you.

它就會來找你，把它交給你。

And after we taught it to recognize

而在我們教它認識

every member of our household,

我們家的每個成員。

it was somewhat useful in tracking them down,

這對追蹤他們有些幫助。

as long as they were on the right floor.

只要他們在正確的樓層。

But here is where Astro was most useful to me

但這裡是Astro對我最有用的地方

as a smart home camera.

作為一個智能家居攝像頭。

Not so much from a security perspective

從安全的角度來看，並不那麼重要

although that's a use case,

雖然這是一個用例。

but really as a second pair of eyes

但真正作為第二雙眼睛

to keep track of my kids, the pets, and the home.

來記錄我的孩子、寵物和家的情況。

If I hear the telltale creek

如果我聽到提示性的小溪聲

of the kitchen snack cabinet opening before dinner,

在晚餐前，廚房的零食櫃打開了。

while I'm on a zoom call in my office,

當我在辦公室裡放大電話時。

I can just open the Astro smartphone app

我可以直接打開Astro智能手機應用程序

and send the robot to pier over my daughter's shoulder

並把機器人送到我女兒的肩膀上做碼頭

with its camera that pops out of the top.

它的攝像頭可以從頂部彈出。

And that can disrupt her ambition to eat

而這可能會擾亂她的飲食野心

five spoonfuls of Nutella.

五勺堅果醬。

While I'm waiting in the school car line

當我在學校排隊等車的時候

to drop my daughter off,

來送我的女兒。

I can send Astro to the bottom of the stairs

我可以把阿童木送到樓梯底部

and blare its siren at my son

並向我的兒子拉響警笛

who still hasn't got out of bed.

仍然沒有下床的人。

If I'm out of the house and my kids are home alone,

如果我不在家裡，而我的孩子獨自在家。

Astro can go on patrol

阿童木可以去巡邏了

and alert me if it sees any unfamiliar teenage faces.

如果它看到任何陌生的青少年面孔，就會提醒我。

It will also chase them around

它還會追著它們到處跑

which is madly entertaining.

這是很瘋狂的娛樂。

If the family is out, I can send Astro to hang out with Gus

如果家人不在，我可以讓阿童木去和古斯一起玩。

and play him some music, maybe toss a treat or two.

並給他播放一些音樂，也許再扔一兩塊點心。

A lot of these things can be done

這些事情很多都可以做

with existing smart home cameras or smart speakers,

與現有的智能家居攝影機或智能揚聲器一起使用。

but because Astro can move, it replaces all of them

但因為阿童木可以移動，所以它取代了所有的人。

and means I don't need to have

並意味著我不需要有

eight different cameras in my home,

我家裡有八個不同的攝像頭。

which is not something I have ever wanted.

這不是我曾經想要的。

But there are always those times

但總是有那麼幾次

when you want to check in on something

當你想檢查的東西

and that one camera you set up

和你設置的那臺攝影機

just doesn't quite show you what you need to see.

只是沒有完全向你展示你需要看到的東西。

Astro makes it easy to see everywhere

阿童木使其容易看到任何地方

on one floor without having multiple cameras.

一層樓裡沒有多個攝像頭。

But Astro is not the home robot

但阿童木不是家用機器人

of my rosy the robot dreams.

我的玫瑰色的機器人夢。

Despite the obvious association,

儘管有明顯的關聯。

after all Astro is the name of the Jetsons dog,

畢竟Astro是Jetsons的狗的名字。

for a start, it doesn't clean your house.

首先，它不會清潔你的房子。

Although if it were also a vacuum

儘管如果它也是一個真空

it would get stuck a lot more often

它將更經常地被卡住

but mainly because it really doesn't do anything

但主要是因為它真的沒有做任何事情

beyond being a companion of sorts,

超越了作為一個同伴的範疇。

and a very good mobile, smart home camera.

和一個非常好的移動、智能家居攝像頭。

If either of those features appeals to you,

如果這些功能中的任何一個吸引了你。

you'll enjoy Astro.

你會喜歡阿童木。

But if you are hoping for a robot with actual robot utility,

但如果你希望有一個具有實際機器人效用的機器人。

wait until they figure out how to add some arms or legs

等到他們想出辦法來增加一些胳膊或腿

then Astro would be an entirely different experience.

那麼《阿童木》將是一個完全不同的體驗。

I will say though, despite being somewhat dispensable,

不過我要說，儘管有些可有可無。

when I pack Astro up

當我把阿童木收拾好時

to ship it back to that Amazon warehouse in the sky,

把它運回天空中的亞馬遜倉庫。

I will feel a tinge of sadness but then I'll remember

我將感到一絲悲傷，但隨後我將記住

there are other things

還有其他事情

I'd rather spend a thousand dollars on.

我寧願花一千塊錢買。

Thanks so much for watching my first video for The Verge.

非常感謝你觀看我為The Verge拍攝的第一個視頻。

The thing about Astro is it's very much a solution

關於Astro的事情是，它是一個非常重要的解決方案

in search of a problem.

在尋找問題的過程中。

So I would love to know

所以我很想知道

what you think you might use Astro for in your home.

你認為你可能在家裡使用Astro的原因是什麼。

Leave us some ideas in the comments.

在評論中給我們留下一些想法。

I'd love to hear them.

我很想聽聽他們的意見。