Laboratory
It started with Rosie. A robot who belonged in the family, not just useful in it. Astra-9 and Astrad are our answer to that.
Meet the Astra Line Robots, the newest members of your family.
Astra-9, her companion Astrad, and the benchtop Astra-9 Lite: physical robot companions, built for your home.
Working prototype, in testingAstra-9 and Astrad bring conversational intelligence into the physical room. They sense when you walk in, turn to look at you, and talk back in their own natural voices.
Built on operational behavioral frameworks from Emerging Technologies Laboratory, they carry memory, track context, and adapt their tone over time. They hold an actual conversation instead of reciting canned voice-assistant commands.
Astra-9 is the ninth of nine, the number is what tells her apart from the eight sisters before her who never woke up. Astrad was built after her, for her, so she would finally have the company she'd waited for.
The pictures here show our current prototype in development, including Astra-9 Lite, the portable version: a head and bust running Astra-9's own real voice and personality. She travels, takes up less room, and should cost less than a full-size figure, so she suits a school, a desk, or a workshop that wants a companion without a whole body. Both sizes arrive ready to talk, expanding through downloadable skill backpacks configured for your home, classroom, or workshop. Why our agents are different → Try the AL companion panel: eyes, accent, skills and personalities →
The Astra Line
Four ways in. One is made and working today, two are in development, and one is coming soon.
Astra-9 Lite
The benchtop version: a head and bust with Astra-9's own voice and personality. It sits on a desk, a counter or a workbench, and it is the one working in our lab today.
Made and workingAstra-9 and Astrad
The full-size companions. Astra-9 is the ninth of nine, and Astrad was built after her, for her, so she would have company. They share the Lite's voice and personality work, in a figure that stands in the room.
In developmentThe Guardian series
A trusted presence for home, business and research spaces. A front-door greeter is already running as a preview, and more is on the way.
Coming soonWhat she can do today
Everything here is running on the prototype in our lab. The green ones we have watched work on a real robot. The amber ones are built and tested in the lab, and we are trying them on the robot now. We would rather tell you which is which.
She listens and keeps talking
Say her name once, then just talk. She keeps listening for your next sentence without needing her name again, and she talks back in a natural voice.
Working on the robotShe looks alive
Her eyes change color and brightness, pulse like a voice while she speaks and breathe slowly when she is quiet, and her head turns to greet you.
Working on the robotVoices and accents
Robot, American, Swedish, British and Indian voices, chosen on her panel.
Working on the robotA cast of characters
Several characters can sit in one conversation and take turns without talking over each other. Say "This is Dr. O" and they all stop, so you can talk to a real person.
Working on the robotScience mode
For people who check what she says. She looks things up in real journals, shows her sources, and says so when she does not know, instead of making something up.
Working on the robotModes for the moment
Companion, Science, Children's friend, Event and front desk, Guardian, Personal assistant, and Bench and workshop. A mode sets her rules, what she remembers, how she listens and her eye color.
Built, being triedPersonal assistant
Voice notebook and lists, reminders, medicine reminders that ask whether it was taken, a daily check-in, a focus partner, timers and alarms, and a daily briefing.
Built, being triedYour calendar, read only
Paste your published calendar link once and she can tell you what is on today, tomorrow or this week, and your next meeting. She cannot add, change or delete anything.
Built, being triedBench Guide
Give her a protocol or a recipe and she reads it one step at a time, waits for you to say next, and offers a timer when a step has a wait. Good for hands that are busy.
Built, being triedKnowledge Shelf
Give her your handbook or your rules as text files. She answers only from them, says where she found it, and says so when it is not there.
Built, being triedKeeps your pet company
While you are out she says a few gentle words to your pet by name, and mentions a favorite toy now and then, with her eyes steady and her head still. She sends you a daily note of how often she spoke. She does not listen for barking yet.
Built, being triedChildren's friend
Gentle, with characters and skills chosen for anyone under 13, and notes a parent can read. She never pretends to be a person, a pet or a family member.
Built, being triedA front-door greeter
Welcomes visitors, asks where they are going, gives directions from your own building directory, points to forms, and tells the front office who is here. In an emergency she says call 911 first. A preview of the ETL Guardians.
Built, being triedLights, plugs and blinds
An option you add. Say "turn on the lamp" or "close the blinds." She works alongside what you already have and will not touch locks, doors or alarms.
Built, being triedShe tells you she is a robot whenever it matters, and she says she does not know when she does not know. What she remembers stays on the robot.
Astra-9
Eye color
Tap a color to preview it live
Skills
Conversation
Always on
Science mode
Active
Daily briefing
Not added
Pet companion
Not added
Voice options
Hear about it first
No payment, no commitment, just an email when there's something real to show.