Key Highlights
- Amazon has finalized its purchase of Fauna Robotics, a humanoid robotics startup based in New York that launched in 2024 with founders from Meta and Google.
- The startup’s flagship product, Sprout, stands 3 feet 6 inches tall and costs $50,000, utilizing NVIDIA’s Jetson Orin technology.
- The transaction completed last week with undisclosed financial details.
- Approximately 50 Fauna team members will transition to Amazon’s Personal Robotics Group in New York under the brand “Fauna, an Amazon company.”
- This purchase arrives shortly after Amazon bought Swiss robotics company Rivr, indicating an aggressive expansion into consumer and delivery robotics sectors.
The e-commerce titan confirmed on Tuesday its completed purchase of Fauna Robotics, a humanoid robotics venture established in 2024 by engineering veterans from Meta and Google. While the transaction wrapped up last week, Amazon hasn’t revealed the purchase price.
$AMZN has acquired Fauna Robotics marking its entry into the consumer humanoid market after the deal closed last week.
Fauna is developing a compact 42-inch humanoid called Sprout that can walk, grip objects, interact with people and even dance. pic.twitter.com/ibRfxcIOuT
— Shay Boloor (@StockSavvyShay) March 24, 2026
This strategic move positions Amazon as a serious contender in the rapidly evolving humanoid robotics industry, which has seen intensifying competition in recent years.
The centerpiece of Fauna’s technology portfolio is Sprout — a two-legged robot measuring 3 feet 6 inches in height with a weight of 50 pounds. The design philosophy emphasizes accessibility and consumer appeal rather than industrial warehouse applications.
Priced at $50,000, Sprout ships with integrated software, mechanical grippers, and an interchangeable battery offering approximately 3 hours of operation. The robot operates on NVIDIA’s Jetson Orin robotics computing platform and features adaptive memory capabilities.
Sprout’s functionality includes bipedal locomotion, dance routines, door manipulation, name recognition, and engaging in conversational exchanges. Early adopters include Disney and Hyundai’s Boston Dynamics division.
The acquisition brings approximately 50 Fauna personnel to an Amazon facility in New York, where they’ll continue operations as “Fauna, an Amazon company.” Co-founders Rob Cochran and Josh Merel will remain with the team.
Fauna will integrate into Amazon’s Personal Robotics Group — a distinct unit separate from the company’s warehouse automation operations.
Amazon’s Robotics Journey
Amazon’s investment in robotics technology spans over a decade. The company’s $775 million purchase of Kiva Systems in 2012 laid the foundation for Amazon Robotics, which now powers the company’s warehouse automation infrastructure.
Amazon previously ventured into home robotics with Astro, a $1,600 mobile personal assistant robot introduced in 2021 that continues to operate on an invitation-only basis. Sprout represents a more comprehensive approach to the consumer robotics market.
The Fauna acquisition follows closely on the heels of Amazon’s purchase of Rivr, a Swiss robotics firm specializing in doorstep delivery automation.
Competition Intensifies in Humanoid Robotics
Amazon enters an increasingly competitive landscape. Tesla continues advancing its Optimus humanoid robot at its Fremont manufacturing facility, with CEO Elon Musk projecting annual production of 1 million units.
The humanoid robotics sector includes notable competitors such as 1X, Figure AI, Apptronik, Agility Robotics, and China-based Unitree.
Amazon indicated it will leverage its robotics knowledge, e-commerce platform, and consumer electronics experience to develop personal robotics applications for everyday users.
A company spokesperson expressed that Amazon is “excited about Fauna’s vision to build capable, safe, and fun robots for everyone.”
AMZN shares finished Tuesday’s trading session up 2.28%, gaining $4.73.
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