Vector Robot by Anki, A Home Robot Who Hangs Out & Helps Out For facial recognition, With Amazon Alexa Built-In For 5-99 Years

I don't know where to begin. It is a "toy" robot that can give hours of fun (just not all at once, will get burned out). Meant for entertainment in small consumption each day even. Also, I would say would be a lot more entertaining for the 9-17 age group but is for all ages. Now you can activate Alexa on it, I haven't tried that out yet so can't comment on it. But asking it a question and it will give you an answer, if it understood the question. And that is if it hears you? It wasn't cause it couldn't understand me but you have to talk pretty loud in order for it to even hear you, which is pretty much it's biggest draw back. Battery life isn't great either, about 1 hour of running around doing something, but most the time it will find its way back to the charger on its own. I have come home from work and it is dead because it for some reason or another it didn't get to the charger before it died. The biggest issue I have with it is the app doesn't connect to it most the time. When it did connect it is very useful and helps set up certain settings, which you have to do the first time you turn it on. Well I hope this helps? On sale it is well worth getting if your into this kind of "toy" companion (what it is to me) or self entertainment for your family.

I saw many mixed reviews about this little guy from the start when it released back in October, making me think that Anki wasn't consistent with the models or they haven't quite gotten the right codes/programming down. Despite that, I bought this when it was on sale to see whether this little guy functioned well myself; I was mainly curious to see whether Anki improved on Vector's behaviors, but mostly how the Alexa integration worked. Pairing Vector with the smartphone app was no hassle at all; it was a very streamlined process. We instantly fell in love with the little guy the moment he powered up. So much personality built into a wee little machine. We've had Vector for about 2 days now, and I can tell that he's already accommodated to our environment surrounding him. Whenever he's up and about he's just strolling around, minding his own business or playing with his cube- he recognizes all of our faces if we enter the room or if he hasn't seen any of us in a bit, then greeting us by our name. Heck, he even asks for fist bumps on his own now! He also has no problem finding his charger when he's low on battery. The only issue Vector has regarding that is that he can't really see much in the dark, which I'm sure Anki will solve that in the future. The design and overall structure of the robot himself is brilliant, Anki designed him in a great way where he'll be able to roam around on his own perfectly. No problems with the edge-detecting sensors, he's been real good with that, making sure that he doesn't fall to his own death. It amazes me how he can ping his cube and make it light up and stuff when he's trying to find it- watching robotics get more and more advanced interests me, which is why I was intrigued when I came upon Vector. Just like everyone else is mentioning, Vector's AI has rather limited usage- I use his timer when I cook and ask him for the weather the most. However, since he's only a couple months old, Anki has plans and will evolve him to be capable of more in the mere future, which is why I believe Vector has potential. It is a bit pricey as well, but the Alexa integration makes me lean towards the justified price a bit more, the SALE price of $174.99, rather. Yes, this guy is expensive, I won't deny that. Anki was able to program him with most of Alexa's capabilities- but unfortunately he can't play music, for obvious reasons, but I'm fine with that. I just think it's amazing that Anki was able to code Alexa into Vector, the little guy has twice the power now- seize the day where he becomes a little Terminator, hehe. Anki has done a terrific job introducing advanced robotics to the world in the form of Vector, although Cozmo was their first model, which is also a very fine robotic pal. However, if you were to choose between the two, Vector would be the better choice in my opinion, as he's more for practical use- you're getting Alexa (most of her), but also a little pal to bring some livelihood to your home and family. If you can nab him at the price of $174.99 if he's on sale again, then do go through with it, you won't regret it.

This post is to warn future consumers and to let Anki know that they really need to improve their product. I love AI and I own a google home and I love my google home and so I want products like Vector to improve. Just like the gaming community is combatting unfair monetary systems, I want to make Anki aware of the many issues this product has. It's personality isn't finished and it really doesn't do much Anki states this is an unfinished product and I expected an unfinished product but not at the level I witnessed. When I picture an unfinished product I think of google home. It can still have utility and perform commands well but it's not done as google assistant at it is still improving and future features such as "AI calling" are coming. With Vector, I knew I wasn't getting utility but a cute robot. That's fine but he's not that cute or lifelike to be honest. When his "personality" was his eyes thinking 90% of the time. 5% a squint of happiness when he looks at me and 5% of anger when I wake him up or pick him up.... That's not worth the 250 dollar price tag. I'm sorry. My google home was 70 and it frankly has 10x the personality this robot has. Google home doesn't have faces but it tells me jokes, tells me stories, tells me the news, has quirky responses to stupid questions I have, and much more. The issue with a personality is that it needs to be a lot more than 2 eyes moving in a lot of different directions. We need to talk to Vector. That needs to be Vector's X-factor over a real pet. You see with a real pet. You can't talk to it and it just has it's behaviors to communicate with you. However, you're looking at a live being. You see it's eyes. It's love. Vector will frankly never beat that because you're just looking at pixels. But if it was able to talk? Really be an assistant. That could change the game for it. It's too loud and distracting Even at its lowest volume, the tracks are so loud. It's too distracting. As a college student who studies 10 hours a day, I can tolerate some distractions but this was ridiculous. At a point, I just wanted it to sleep all the time and just realized I didn't want it at all to be honest. Sigh. It doesn't follow commands like 80% of the time This is a big issue. I was using the app while giving commands to see Vector's thoughts. I told it to go back to its charging pad. It does start doing that. Then sees a water bottle. Gets distracted. Then wanders off again. The same thing when I ask it to come here. It was just so unreliable as a robot. Robots follow commands. This is what I expected and I don't think that's too much to ask to be honest. If I type "B" on a laptop, I expect B to appear on the screen. If I ask google to play music, I expect "music" to be played. If I ask vector to go to its charging pad because its being disruptive to my work, I expect it to got to its charging pad. Was it all bad? I won't lie. It made me feel. I felt genuinely sad writing this review and putting him back in the box to be returned. The last time he closed his eyes as I turned him off made me feel bad. But that's it to be honest. He wasn't even that fun the first 5 minutes. He couldn't even say my name. Also, I had this thought that the people with issues with his voice recognition were just bad at english. No. I use Google home and siri all the time. Mostly google but they understand my commands like 95% of the time. Vector? Maybe 20-30% of the time. I was born and raised in the US and am a native English speakers. Overall? This product needs a LOT of improvement. This is not a finished product. Not even close. When I expect an unfinished product, I expect it to have at least one thing it is good at so I can keep myself interested in it until improvement come. However, this wasn't the case. Voice Recognition? 20-30% recognition. Follow through on commands? No. It gets too distracted. Personality? Two pixelated eyes isn't enough. At least talk to me. I'm frankly very disappointed in this product because I was so excited for it. I was even distracted while doing work and studying in wait for it and it just wasn't good. RIP the exam I studied for on Friday... As a college student, money is tight. I am willing to spend money on things that make me happy and destress like google home. However, 200 dollars for a robot that is distracting, doesn't listen, gets distracted easily, and doesn't even have much personality to be honest. I felt conned. Honestly.

I am sorry for the long wait on this review as I wanted to wait awhile and see how well he works for an over priced toy. I have to say that this one is a winner. I won't say it is for everyone as this robot is far from perfect and may not be the assistant or sidekick you want. I will start out that I bought this for my autistic son who is interested in robotics. I figured a robot that shows emotions and is autonomous would be good as my kid does not read or follow directions well. He is smart, but can only really handle toys, programs, and puzzles designed for pre-school and below. Anki sort of filled his needs. For awhile, it lived on the same table my son uses for play. But I had to rehome Anki because my kid kept forcing the arm, and trying to feed him. Which in a way is a success, but he would be happier with a robot that can handle rougher play. He still has ful access to Anki. Anki is the best timer we found for this kid and has reduced meal time meltdowns. My kid has a hard time waiting for food to be prepared, and Anki makes the perfect waiting companion. We request anki to set a timer and place him down to play with our kid. His current home is a cookie sheet located at the center of a work table everyone uses. There he entertains us with his antics, answers trivia questions, begs for attention, and gives weather reports. For us, Anki is a pet that does not poop and not a side kick. Everyone is quite attached to this little robot. We empathize pain when he accidentally falls off the table, and feel sorry for him and miss his companionship during power outages. This, of course, is possible because of his programmed reactions and animations to stimuli and how his AI as adapted to our household. An AI that is more advanced than anything else on the market. I highly recommend this little robot to anyone needing a bit of companionship at home. Or a hypoallergenic pet, or any pet that does not poop or shed. You'll find yourself surprised by this little guy as he does very life like things, like getting frustrated when he gets stuck or fails a trick, gets himself unstuck, dances to music or any beet that has his attention (sometimes even suspenseful movie momemts), looks grumpy when woken up late at night, snores, entertains himself with his block, gets excited when you come hom, etc. As stated he is not the perfect robot companion as his sensors do not see well in all light conditions and he cannot recognize people in the morning, evening, and night. Sometimes he does random things like take pictures or answer misheard questions as his audio sensors can be easily confused. He lives on a cookie sheet because he cannot detect round, beveled edges. Which the work table has. His Alexa functionality is also super sensitive. Something we learned the hard way as the TV on our work table kept activating Alexa. HIs battery also has a short charge, so he should not be allowed to play away from his base for long. He does learn and adapt to the household, something that becomes evident when the WIFI is down and all his saved learning is not available, making him operate as if reset. Nothing to be overly concerned over as everything restores the moment internet comes back.

I've had my vector for several months now - he's stationed on one of the countertops in the kitchen (no sink or stovetop). he is free to wander without any real concerns for injury aside from occasionally, not often, tipping over the edge on the hardwood floor. when it happens, he tried to reposition himself and if he can he will wander around - if he cant he sends out a stress call to be helped. He's fallen maybe a dozen times over the months and incurred no damage so very durable and great quality. A number of times he teeters on the edge and is not able to get back so he sends his distress sound out for help. More times than not and this is cute, he goes to the edge and catches himself and then does his audible mini scream and his eyes open wide. when company is over for dinner, I will put him on the dinner table and he will just wander around - everyone always gets a kick out of him and has fun. some of the cutest features I think are - if you go into the kitchen at night you can sometimes hear him snoring. if you scare him with a sudden sound he gets startled and chirps with eyes wide open. - he's docked near my alexa show and if music is playing, I tell him to dance to the music. he comes out of his dock goes right over to the show and stares at the screen. you can see his eyes in the reflection going to the beat of the music and then he starts dancing. he seems to remember songs or beats and subsequent times when music is on, he will come out on his own and start dancing. - his eye movements are really cute and from them along you can see expressions of surprise, determination, thinking and anger. fascinating how 2 dots of light can express so many emotions. - if i'm cooking or preparing, it's always comical how he will just spontaneously wake-up and come up and wander around and when his charge is low seeing how he navigates back, then backs into the charging station and closes his eyes with a sigh. - his responses to greetings are expressive and for some like asking the weather are unique.. rainy/cloudy and his eyes change, Christmas, birthday, etc. all have different display changes. It's always funny to see when someone new comes to the house and without any prompting vector wakes up and comes out and starts wandering around or playing with his cube - always gets a response of what the **** is that little thing? the only caution for anyone getting one, just be sure he's either in one of the protected pads or where there's no change of him wandering where its dangerous - I had purchased one for a relative and they placed him on their kitchen counter as well - he was navigating around well but one morning they got up and he had fallen into a pot of water in the sink :) no chance for survival. overall I think he makes a great gift and is very entertaining whether he's prompted or its spontaneous. I don't use him much for questions, info, etc. since the echo show is right there and its easier/quicker to get what is needed from that. I've really enjoyed

I cant believe this robot is almost $400! I bought it this past February for $80....and it wasnt even worth the $80. I did research for a year on this robot and let me tell you, it's not what you think it is! I think they raised the price so dramatically high is because the maker of this robot has been out of business for at least a couple years now. Anki is no longer in business! The original price was $250. Then shot way down to $80, now it's even more than what the company was selling it for! Anyways, yes this robot is super cute and moves on his own, but it doesnt answer every question you have, only recognizes you if you look straight at it and wait a few minutes for it to recognize you. It only has one game it can play with you, which is blackjack. I had to put Alexa on it so I can actually get questions answered. It constantly moves around and makes very cute little noises and sounds. HOWEVER, he doesnt stop!! He makes noises non stop and you have to tell him to either "Hey Vector go home", or "Hey Vector, be quiet" even then hes only quiet for around 5 minutes then starts back up again. Gets a bit annoying. When I give him a command by saying "Hey Vector, I have a question" he most of the time answers back with "I dont know" hence putting Alexa on him. Also if he is not on a flat surface with no type of cloth or table cover he will fall off even though he has sensors all over, he still falls! Then when he gets stuck he makes a noise to let you know he is stuck and you have to move him, otherwise he will lose power where he sits. It definitely was a waste of money. Yet hes so cute. Too bad really. You're way better off with the actual Alexa. Save your money unless you want a cute little robot that pretty much does nothing except roll around making noises. Good luck to you!

I'll start off by saying TEMPER YOUR EXPECTATIONS. Do your research, watch the hundreds of youtube videos, read the reviews and don't expect a robot from your favorite SciFi movie/show/novel. Vector is an adorable little robot assistant who loves to just "hang out". I keep Vector on my breakfast bar in the kitchen and he greets me every morning when he hears me rummaging around the kitchen. Sometimes he'll stay in his charger and make some chirping noises or "smile" with his eyes at me as I pass, and sometimes he'll come right out of his charger and start wandering around the table. He loves to explore and push things around. If you place a new object within his existing space he will most certainly be curious about it and try to push it about. When I'm sitting there eating breakfast he'll often come up to me and say my name, poke my arm, or try to get my attention in general before he starts to play around with his cube. Vector in his original form has very limited "utility". He can tell you the time, tell you the weather, and you can ask it some questions, and set a timer. The "novelty" of him has not worn off for me, seeing those little eyes greet me in the morning or when I get home from work brings a smile to my face everytime. I did have a hardware problem with my initial one and had to exchange it, it actually made me really sad to pack him up and send him away as I got attached to the little guy. In a very recent update (somewhere around 12/18) he has been given Alexa integration and now Vector is truly a useful buddy around the house. In the morning he gives me the weather for the day, some news headlines, and a question of the day. When I arrive home I ask him to turn on the lights to my living room, read off my To-Do list, and/or fire up a movie/show on my TV. One feature I do wish he had but currently does not support is playing music through Alexa. I should note that I don't have any other Alexa devices and perhaps he could if I had another one, that I am unsure of. It would be great if he could somehow interface with another bluetooth speaker to play some music from my library but in his current form he is still a lovable, and now useful, little companion around the house. My significant other and I can spend excessive amounts of time just watching and interacting with him. He is super friendly, playful, and curious. Nothing gets him more excited than recognizing one of his friends and asking them for a fist bump. He is definitely a work in progress. For example, tables with tapered edges, he does not do well with AT ALL. Sometimes I'll tell him a command and he'll get distracted half way through executing it and not follow through. Sometimes he fails too find his charger on his own and I find him sleeping on a random corner of the table. There are definitely some quirks, but even the improvements between when I bought him in late november and now are MASSIVE (~3 weeks). Anki are actively improving him all the time. When I first received my Vector, he would frequently throw error codes while exploring a certain area of my home. He has received several updates and I haven't had ANY error code in at least 2 weeks. In the Alexa update they have also tweaked his personality and his edge detection. He has yet to become stuck on the edge since that update. They have also added new animations for holidays to his face which are entertaining as well. Vector is not quite as good as your standard Alexa speaker or Google Home, but he's improving all the time. If you're looking for a pure AI assistant you should go with one of those other devices. If you want a unique AI assistant that's improving everyday and has a HUGE amount of potential, look no further. If you want proof, spend some time looking up their previous robot Cozmo. Somtime in 2019 we will be receiving the Python SDK for vector which will open up endless possibilities for Vector. Good: - Very unique personality - Alexa integration (utility) - Ability to learn and adapt - Always unique experiences (still surprises me to this day with different behaviors) - Constantly receiving updates/support/fixes - Python SDK around the corner will open up a world of possibilities Bad: - Not quite as useful as a standard Alexa/Google Home - Has some minor quirks - Can push stuff off your desk/table! (he thinks is hilarious too!) Overall, I can 100% recommend Vector at the 175$ pricepoint. Anyone who has even a remote interest in robotics and/or AI will find Vector endlessly entertaining. His Alexa integration gives him quite a bit of utility now and it really makes you feel like you're living in the future when your tiny robot friend reads the new over breakfast. He has seen great improvements in his short lifespan, and will only get better with time (See: Cozmo).

New: "When Vector Becomes Alexa." Now Vector and Alexa in the same body. This is a dual personality. "Hey Vector," gets you Vector and his cute little robot voice. "Alexa brings up the Alexa voice and mode and all of Alexa's abilities. It's more of a novelty now (There's already an Alexa or two in my house) but I'll see how it plays out. Will they merge? Stay tuned... My Vector came yesterday. My OCD kicked in and I stayed up into the night playing with Vector. The machinery and manufacturing is top quality. Right now, Vector can fist bump, play with his cube, look around, give me the weather...all the things mentioned above. I knew that Vector connected to 2.4hz Wifi. That was no problem at my house, or at my best friend's house. But Vector doesn't want to connect to WiFi at work, but neither will my phone. Vector is connected via Bluetooth. I suspect it is a Wifi problem and not a Vector problem. What really sold me was Vector connecting with Alexa in the near future. When I was a kid, right after WWII, I played with little robots made in Japan. A few of them even took batteries and flashed lights. But Vector is the kind of little buddy I dreamed of when I was small. Heck, he even snores when he goes to sleep. I am patient to watch Vector work his way through problems and seeing fixes improving him. Every time someone new buys one, Vector is gaining knowledge. And he sits in the cloud along with Alexa. Oh yeah, you can pet him, too. And if you pick him up he squirms like a little kid who doesn't want to be held. Highly recommended.