Robots available for rent: But what can they do?

Robots are increasingly available for rent or on a subscription basis, a model known as robotics-as-a-service, which lowers upfront costs and allows users to keep up with rapidly evolving technology. One example is Moxi, a one-armed, four-foot-high robot from Texas-based Diligent Robotics, which shuttles medical supplies around hospitals. Nurses often greet Moxi with a "good morning" or a high five, and the robot responds with heart-shaped LED eyes and a beep. Todd Brugger, the company's COO, says the rental model lowers expenses for hospitals and allows for routine software and capability upgrades. Robot rentals are available for various purposes, from hospital deliveries to robot bartenders and autonomous farm weeders, for periods ranging from a day to years. This increasingly includes early humanoid models designed for entertainment, such as dancing or serving guests at weddings and corporate events. Ethan Qi from Counterpoint Research notes that a humanoid dance routine is relatively simple to train using video of a real dancer, though an engineer often accompanies the robot in case of issues. Ambitions for humanoid rentals extend beyond entertainment, with companies like California-based 1X planning to ship a home helper robot called NEO later this year. Early access customers in the US can either buy the robot outright for $20,000 or subscribe for $499 per month. Dar Sleeper, vice president of product and design at 1X, says the subscription model makes the robot affordable for more people. The appeal of renting over buying is partly due to the rapid pace of improvement in robotics technology, as new models are released annually.