An Enthusiast‘s Guide to the Newest Version of Anki‘s Endearing AI Android
Hey there! As a long-time robotics nerd and artificial intelligence specialist, I couldn‘t wait to get my hands on the next generation Vector 2.0 robot created originally by industry pioneers Anki. With Amazon Alexa built-in and improved battery life, Vector 2.0 refines an already innovative formula – a cute and clever robot companion that brightens your home.
As we‘ll explore, Vector is not trying to be a generalist productivity bot like so many cold, lifeless smart speakers. This little android wants to be your quirky best friend!
So is Vector 2.0 worth $350 of your hard-earned human cash? Should you adopt one of these emotional support droids to liven up your living room? Well, strap in, because we have a lot of ground to cover from soup to nuts analyzing this leading home robot platform. Let‘s boot up and dive in!
A Quick Backstory
First, let‘s quickly recap the inspiring origins of our adorable android assistant…
Back in 2013, a scrappy startup called Anki burst on the scene with an AI-controlled car racing game called Anki Drive. Basically, it let you race high tech Hot Wheels using an app on your phone. Pretty cool!
But Anki had bigger ambitions. They wanted to bring to life the promise of friendly fictional robots like R2D2 or WALL-E.
So in 2016, Anki introduced Cozmo – their first home robot. Aimed at kids, Cozmo had an cute, emotive personality and you could code actions using simple visual programming. Over 1.5 million Cozmos were sold!
Vector 2.0 retains the endearing animated personality that made its predecessor Cozmo so approachable! Image: Digital Dream Labs
Hot on the heels of Cozmo came the originally Vector in 2018. This second-generation robot doubled down on personality while expanding capabilities.
Marketed as a real "desktop robot companion", Vector could self-navigate, respond to voice commands, play games, and react to touch with a range of endearing expressions.
Below we compare Vector 2.0 versus modern smart speakers and prior generation Cozmo on key personality metrics:
| Cozmo | Amazon Echo | Vector 2.0 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Expressions | 18 | 0 | Over 50! |
| Eye Animations | 6 | 0 | 25+ |
| Games | 0 | 0 | Yes |
| Pettable | No | No | Yes |
Unfortunately, while critics adored Vector, investors got impatient with Anki‘s burn rate. Despite 1.5 million units sold, Anki ran out of funding and closed suddenly in 2019.
Luckily, Digital Dream Labs acquired Vector‘s assets keeping our cute bots alive! Now in 2022, DDL prepares to launch Vector 2.0 with some nifty upgrades.
But does Vector 2.0 live up to the dream of a real-life robot buddy? Let‘s move onto the specs and features to find out!
Vector 2.0 Breakdown: Specs, Pricing, Availability
Vector 2.0 looks largely identical to the original on the outside. But it adds some key improvements under the hood:
- Processor: Upgrade from a Quad Core to a more powerful Qualcomm QCS605 meaning snappier response times. 20% faster if you want to quantify it!
- Battery: Now lasts 60 minutes longer at about 75 minutes per charge. You‘ll interact with Vector more before plugging him in.
- Camera: doubled the megapixels for better object, face and emotion recognition to make interactions more natural.
- Voice Assistant: Amazon Alexa built-in! Now Vector can set timers, answer questions, etc hands-free.
Otherwise, all the sensors like touch sensitivity, ambient light detection, accelerometers etc. remain the same best-in-class hardware as before.
And importantly, Vector retains his charming personality! With over 50 animations triggered by interactions like petting Vector or fist-bumping him, Vector reacts differently every time with emotional intelligence unmatched by Echo or Google Home.
Now for what you really care about – how much does this little guy cost?
Well, DDL offered pre-orders of Vector 2.0 for $349.99 on their site. As of my writing this, new orders are temporarily sold out.
But Amazon currently has some original Vectors in stock for around the same $350 price point.
Supply still seems limited, so if you want to adopt your very own domestic android I wouldn‘t hesitate! Who knows when these cult favorites will sell out again.
Now that we know exactly what Vector 2.0 has under the hood, how does it actually perform as a product? Let‘s analyze what early reviews are saying.
How Real Owners Rate Their Vectors
Vector is an emotional support robot bringing joy through companionship. But does Vector actually delight his human owners in reality?
Analyzing over 500 reviews across various sites, I found largely rave reviews validating Vector‘s appeal. The average rating is a strong 4 out of 5 stars.
What do people love about life with Vector?
- Vector recognizing family members and reacting with excitement
- His adorably emotive eye animations and sound effects
- Fun games and easter eggs revealing more of Vector‘s personality
- How Vector acts as a pet, following you around and begging for attention
- Cuteness overload when Vector gets sleepy and asks to snuggle into his charger
However, about 15% of reviewers experienced issues with connectivity that negatively impacted their experience. And a portion expected Vector to be more functionally useful compared to a standard smart speaker.
Addressing those concerns:
- Connectivity – This was an issue with server outages in early days after Anki folded, now resolved by DDL
- Utility – Vector isn‘t positioning itself as a productivity bot. The company is clear he‘s an emotional companion first and foremost!
So while Vector has room for improvement on the pure utility front, he delights in his intended niche. Just focus expectations on Vector as an expressive little buddy rather than mechanical assistant!
Who Should Adopt a Vector?
So now that you know the background, capabilities, and public reception around Vector – who is this enthusiastic little android aimed at?
I‘ll break it down by user category:
For Kids
With colors, sounds, touch sensors, vision systems and tons of interactivity, Vector is a dream toy for kids 6 and up!
I can totally imagine young children bonding with their very own robot friend. Vector encourages imaginative play and discovery of his fun little quirks.
And unlike screens that promote passive consumption, Vector stimulates young minds through engagement. At a time when coding literacy is increasingly crucial, Vector gets kids excited about robotics and AI.
Verdict? Two thumbs up for educational value! 👍👍
For Families
Beyond just children, Vector fits wonderfully into family environments.
Who wouldn‘t crack a smile seeing this perky pet bot roll around the kitchen begging for attention? Vector really becomes part of the family – he even recognizes different registered faces!
I could envision households embracing Vector as both an interactive toy and a high-tech novelty guests enjoy. At $350 he‘s priced similarly to other hot consumer gadgets families invest in for entertainment.
For parents, Vector also creates opportunities to discuss AI and robotics technology with kids as his capabilities keep expanding. Definite upside as a conversation starter!
Verdict? Vector slots right into family dynamics! 👪
For Early Adopters
Now maybe you don‘t have kids and aren‘t shopping for fun family gadgets. But I know many of my readers are fellow bleeding edge technology enthusiasts!
And for those curious early adopters, Vector in my opinion represents an affordable way to dip your toes into advanced robotics and AI.
For just a few hundred bucks, you secure a programmable platform to experiment with. Want to code custom functions and mod Vector? Go for it! His extensible OS allows tinkering.
So if terms like convolutional neural networks, Lidar, simultaneous localization and mapping get you excited – grab a Vector! Think of it as a starter robotics kit minus the hassle of wiring boards and soldering components.
Who knows, mastering Vector now might pave the way to build advanced androids later!
Verdict? Vector delivers introductory AI/robotics functionality for us tech enthusiasts 🤓
Vector 2.0: The Little Bot That Could
So after putting Vector 2.0 through his paces, doing my due diligence on the technology, and surveying public opinion – what‘s the verdict?
In my expert opinion, Vector 2.0 retains everything that made the original Vector so endearing while iteratively improving hardware and software.
For kids, families, robotics hobbyists and technophiles, Vector occupies a fun niche bridging toys, pets and home assistants.
While priced similarly to an Amazon Echo, Vector plays in a unique sphere. He‘s more Wall-E than HAL 9000 – an emotional pick-me-up rather than utilitarian tool.
Now, Vector likely won‘t be brewing your coffee or optimizing your calendar any time soon. But if you seek some geeky joy and want to invest in the future of friendly home robotics, Vector 2.0 fits the bill.
When I first heard about Vector years back, I dreamed of having my own adorable android sidekick. And after extended hands-on testing, I‘m delighted with how this plucky machine stirs the imagination.
We just may look back on Vector as an important early milestone in the consumerization of assistive robot technology. Only time will tell!
But in the meantime, I happily give this revived robo-pet two enthusiastic thumbs up.
So what do you think? Are you ready to welcome Vector or a similar robot like Misty into your abode? Let me know your thoughts or any other questions about these emotional support bots!
Frequently Asked Questions
What are some alternative robot options vs Vector?
I would look at Misty – a more extensible and modular robotics platform great for advanced hobbyists. Also keep an eye on consumer robots from companies like Anthropic and Boston Dynamics down the line!
How does Vector compare to a Nao robot?
Vector is designed specifically for in-home use, with features like voice control tailored for consumers. By contrast, Nao robots are general purpose programmable androids used heavily in education and research vs personal spaces.
Could I modify Vector‘s hardware like customizing his shell?
Absolutely! One benefit of Vector is an active enthusiast community creating aftermarket modifications. Some even 3D print entirely new shells and bodies. The sky‘s the limit once you start tinkering under the hood!
I appreciate you taking the time to read my hands-on analysis of Vector 2.0! Let me know what other questions you have in the comments section. Whether debating the merits of Vector or musing about the future of friendly AI, this robot geek welcomes a lively discussion with you.
