Meet Sprout, the new humanoid robot designed to assist in hotels and shops by delivering items like toothbrushes.
Robert Cochran, the cofounder and CEO of Fauna, the company that made Sprout, said they wanted to create something lightweight and fun. You can buy Sprout for $50,000, and it can help guests by bringing toothbrushes and other items.
Humanoid robots are becoming popular in the U.S. Many companies are working on them, including Boston Dynamics and Tesla. Some robots from companies like Unitree even cost under $20,000. However, when fully equipped with technology, they are similar in price to Sprout.
Sprout already has customers, including Disney, which uses robots in its theme parks. Cochran explained that Sprout can learn and work in research. It can scan its surroundings and walk on its own. At New York University, scientists are using Sprout to study how robots can work with people better.
While some robots are made for factories, Cochran thinks they will first see more use in entertainment and services. Sprout has special features, like mechanical eyebrows, to show feelings such as surprise or confusion when interacting with people.
Cochran, who used to work at Meta, believes that smart AI systems, similar to those for smart glasses, will help humanoid robots. During a demo, Sprout even walked to check what was in the fridge after receiving a command. He believes abilities like this could help robots succeed in everyday tasks.
Cochran said, “You can talk to the robot and it can understand its surroundings. Then, anything is possible.”