ASUS Zenbo Home Robot Will Be First Available In Taiwan Beginning 2017

ASUS announced at the recent Computex that it's Zenbo Home Robot will initially be available to customers in Taiwan. Preorders will be accepted starting Jan. 1, 2017, as there is a limited quantity for the first batch.

Pricing for the ASUS Zenbo Home Robot starts at about US$620, a tad bit higher than the previously announced US$599. This is for the standard 32GB package. It also comes in a 128GB model with self-charging dock for about US$780, per Engadget.

But the biggest news perhaps is the recent announcement that ASUS collaborated with Taiwan's National Police Agency to enable the ASUS Zenbo Home Robot to be used as an emergency video call device to the police.

Details are still sketchy. But a live demo during the announcement hints at a possible wider usability emergency-wise when the feature is actually up and running. It's possible that emergency override on the side of the police will be incorporated to allow them better assessment of every situation.

For now, standard voice-controlled features on the ASUS Zenbo Home Robot are limited to local services like food delivery, taxi or van bookings, online shopping, banking, medical prescriptions, music streaming, and of course house cleaning and gaming. But voice command features are being expanded as development on the robot continues.

Kid companionship is one of the best-selling features on the ASUS Zenbo Home Robot. The unveiling revealed a simple Block-based programming suite allowing children as young as five years old to automate Zenbo's movements using basic logic.

Younger kids can be entertained by simple built-in games and story-telling features which come with an optional subscription. The basic 32GB model of the ASUS Zenbo Home Robot comes with a one-month free subscription, while the 128GB model comes with an extra month. Both offer 19 stories with the package.

To see the ASUS Zenbo Home Robot's other capabilities, check out the demonstration video below.