Goose home robot debut: not humanoid - a low body plus long articulated neck takes another shape for the home
San Francisco startup The Robot Works unveils Goose, prototype 1 of a household robot that deliberately avoids the humanoid form: a white, rounded, low base close to the floor, a long articulated neck reaching outlets, door handles, counters and laundry piles, camera eyes set in a bonnet so you can see where it looks, an orange beak doubling as a gripper, and a blue polka-dot wrap making it feel like an appliance rather than a machine. After interviewing many families, founders Richard Wei and Humphrey Hu (ex-Anki, expressive robot faces) chose this shape: a wide low base is safer than legs, and a neck suits reaching better than standing tall; motors yield when blocked by a foot, chair or child, and the robot analyzes blind spots before moving. Demos include placing a foot on an ottoman, gathering clothes off the floor, reaching the kitchen counter, plugging into a wall outlet, and opening a door for arriving guests. The business starts with services: full-room tidy, checking in on grandpa, story-time companion, home monitoring while away, stove checks, and bringing parcels in - positioned as an assistant that works alongside you, explicitly not doing hands-on care like bathing, dressing or lifting.
