Amazon’s secret home robot, Vesta, is reportedly in a ‘final prototype stage’ of development

Amazon appears to have reached the “late prototype stage” in the creation of its secret domestic robot codenamed Vesta, says a new report from Insider. The device has been in development for about four years and now has more than 800 employees working on it, says the publication. If the robot is launched, it will be one of the biggest and most ambitious new products from Amazon, along the lines of Echo, Kindle and Fire Phone.

In fact, it’s comparisons to the latest device, Amazon’s failed smartphone project, that seems to be worrying some of those involved in the development of Vesta. “People are very skeptical – we are concerned that it could turn into another Fire Phone”, one of the six anonymous sources cited by Insider as “directly involved in the project,” said the publication.

Dan Seifert / The Verge photo

As with any unannounced device on this scale, there are plenty of unanswered questions and uncertain details. The basic premise, however, is that the Vesta will be an Amazon Echo on wheels: a voice-activated assistant that can navigate your home, respond to your commands and interface with other smart home devices.

InsiderThe report contains a number of intriguing and speculative details, including the suggestion that the device is the size of “two small cats” – about 25 to 33 inches wide (its conversion may vary depending on your cats). The robot will be equipped with a screen, microphone and several cameras. Additional features may include sensors for monitoring temperature, humidity and air quality; a “small compartment” for the transport of objects; and a “waist-high retractable pole with a camera” that can be combined with machine vision technology to help users find items in their home, such as keys and wallets.

Vesta, named after the Roman goddess of the home, shows Amazon’s continued effort to incorporate its products into the hearts of customers’ homes. Over the years, the company has launched a number of devices in an attempt to extend its reach to kitchens and bedrooms, from the discontinued Dash Wand, which allowed users to place orders for grocery products by scanning barcodes, to Always Home. Cam, a mini drone announced last year by Amazon-owned Ring, which provides mobile surveillance around the house.

Insider says that Amazon has developed Vesta as a “top priority”, but that the first sales projections are modest. “Amazon could initially launch it as a limited-only product for guests, similar to what it did with its fitness band Halo, according to these people,” says the publication. This could prevent the company from wasting resources on unsold inventory. Even mobile robots will not rise and sell.