What's after smart home devices? Home robots, of course

By this time next year, you could have your very own robot to do stuff around your home, courtesy of Amazon. Lab126, the company’s hardware research and development division, is quietly working on a domestic robot, according to a Bloomberg report. And it could be ready to roll (or, maybe, walk? who knows) into customers’ homes as soon as 2019. The project began several years ago, and that Amazon recently ramped up hiring for it. The company’s jobs page features openings for several robot-related positions for Lab126, such as “Senior Applied Robotics Scientist” and “Sr. Software Engineer, Robotics.” Prototypes of Amazon’s home robot make use of advanced cameras and computer vision software. That’s essentially the same technology that helps an autonomous car navigate roads could help Vesta traverse the home.