14 DAY TRIAL // We all know the jokes about people, animals and things following you home like a lost puppy, but they don't usually mean anything good when they apply to a situation. Keecker, however, might change that.
Keecker is a robot created by a company by the same name, stationed in Redwood City, CA. It's not a normal robot though.
Then again, there is no such thing as “normal” robot. Humanoid bots that can properly walk are rare, and they're usually small too. Also, robots used in additive manufacturing or other types of assembly lines may as well not be called robots at all.
Walkers don't look much like humans, and they're not found outside military applications much either. And exoskeletons aren't really robots in the strictest sense.
The bottom line is that there is no such thing as a “normal” robot because no one can seem to agree on a standard type, even for specific markets like consumer entertainment.
On the flip side, this has allowed inventors to experiment with all sorts of shape, and today we are looking at something that has the appearance of an egg.
The Keecker HomePod
Said to be the world's very first HomePod, the robot is actually an egg-shaped device with wheels on the bottom, which give it the ability to move around a home.
And that's exactly what it's supposed to do. Once you buy it, unwrap it at home and activate it, the robot will travel around your apartment or house and build a map.
That done, it can finally start fulfilling its primary purpose, which is to follow you around the house and sing songs, project movies on a wall, browse the web for you, or even serve as a gaming unit.
The built-in 369-degree camera and microphone are useful if you want to have a video conferencing with someone as well.
The semi-autonomous behavior is activated by a press of the big button on the top, but you can send commands through your iOS or Android smartphone as well, provided you've installed the necessary app.
In essence, the Keecker is supposed to replace the need for TVs, music players and other entertainment devices in multiple rooms, since it can go where you go.
Availability and pricing
Since the Keecker HomePod Kickstarter campaign has already exceeded its funding goal despite there being 31 days left, you can be sure the egg-shaped, shin-tall robot will be marketed. The initial price is of $3,000 / €2,350 to $4,000 / €3,134.