Amazon-Backed ‘Cinderella’ Robot Unveiled at CES 2023

A new robot butler was unveiled at this year’s CES event, promised as the first autonomous robot of its kind used for assisted living purposes.

Designed by Labrador Systems, the robot is essentially a self-driving cart, capable of picking up and carrying items around a home to help individuals with limited mobility or chronic pain. The “Cinderella” robot has been dubbed the Labrador Retriever, using 3D vision and an array of sensors to map and navigate through the home, and can carry up to 25 pounds worth of items.

The personal robot was created to offer additional help to elderly or disabled people living alone and can be pre-programmed to collect or deliver items at specific times, extending caregiving capabilities and offering users more independence. It can also be controlled using an app or through voice commands.

The system has already received backing from Amazon and can be integrated into the retail giant’s smart home devices to offer users greater ease of command, as well as a rapid and easy means of communicating with caregivers.

Plans for the Labrador Retriever were first announced at CES 2022, with the final design demonstrated at CES 2023.

As part of the demonstrations, Amazon's Echo Show 10 was installed on top of the Labrador Retriever, allowing users to interact with the robot and control it with the command of “Alexa.” Using voice commands, the robot retrieved drinks from a nearby fridge and delivered them to the user.

"The proof-of-concept demo with the Echo Show 10 is a preview of what we will be testing in our next rounds of pilots with care providers," said Mike Dooley, Labrador Systems CEO. "Capabilities like this can make a dramatic difference in the quality of people's lives and their ability to live independently while staying connected with others, and we're grateful to Amazon's team for their support on this project.”

"The Alexa Fund originally invested in Labrador due to our belief in the utility of robotics and the company's vision to utilize this technology to benefit customers with mobility challenges or who lack access to home assistance," said Paul Bernard, Alexa Fund director. "This test demonstration with Retriever and our Echo Show 10 not only makes technology physically within reach via voice but also showcases the power of ambient intelligence as the system can operate and navigate independently in the background."