Amazon Acquires Fauna Robotics for Home Robots

Amazon has acquired Fauna Robotics, a New York-based startup specializing in approachable humanoid robots, marking the company's latest move into consumer-focused robotics technology. The deal, which closed last week, was confirmed by Amazon on Tuesday, with financial terms not disclosed.

Fauna Robotics, founded in 2024 by engineers Rob Cochran and Josh Merel, develops the Sprout robot, a compact bipedal humanoid designed for safe interactions in homes, schools, and research settings. Standing 3.5 feet tall and weighing 50 pounds, Sprout resembles the stature of a child rather than industrial models. Launched to research and development partners in January 2026, the robot can walk autonomously, pick up light objects, express emotions via articulated eyebrows and LED facial displays, and engage in natural conversations using voice recognition. It features a developer platform that allows quick creation of custom applications, including gestures, movements, and tasks like dancing or fetching small items.

Priced at $50,000, Sprout targets researchers, educators, and corporate labs rather than immediate consumer sales. Early adopters include Disney, Boston Dynamics, the University...