This robot might just outshine R2D2 in the charm department.
Astra, a 4-foot tall silver robot, dreams of being a doctor and currently works at the Big Apple Vein Treatment Clinic. One day, who knows? He might be performing surgery.
For now, Astra is still learning the ropes. His tasks include greeting customers, cruising down the sidewalk, and handing out flyers on Steinway Street. Not too shabby for a beginner, I guess.
Dr. George Volchin has big plans for Astra. He envisions a time when the robot could help scrub the operating room or assist him by handing over tools during procedures—and maybe even sharing some medical advice as they go along.
“Right now, he mostly does promotional work, but I truly believe he’ll play a bigger role in surgeries at some point,” said Dr. George Borotin, a vascular expert and self-proclaimed technology enthusiast.
He spends his time doing basic tasks until he’s ready to scrub in—there’s still a bit to go.
After a year on a waiting list, Borotin, 39, purchased Astra last spring for a hefty $20,000. So far, he’s worked in the Bronx, Brooklyn, and Queens.
The robot, while impressive, still needs a doctor to guide him. Currently, Astra serves as a mobile advertisement. It’s a prototype, but Borotin believes future updates could enhance its abilities, allowing it to operate independently.
Astra shares a model with the popular trash can robot, Lisbot, known for its quirky antics on social media.
However, Astra doesn’t have the same controversial features; it can’t display the rude behavior that others might exhibit. Operators can modify the software, but Borotin sticks to family-friendly programming, keeping things appropriate.
This means Astra can only handle basic tasks, like picking things up and, jokingly, blowing kisses. And it can dash at an eerie three miles per hour.
“When I saw him run, I was like, ‘Wow!’” Borotin said with amusement.
He controls Astra using a device connected to his phone—something he’s still getting used to.
If Astra gains autonomy, as Borotin hopes, there’s a chance he could assist in surgery, which might reduce the need for human staff.
“Finding reliable help for certain roles is tough, so I think this is the way to go,” Borotin explained.
“Astra is always on time for work. He’ll never call in sick and just needs to be recharged.”
Though he shares a close working relationship with his robot, Borotin has concerns about potential hacking—after all, it’s possible someone could hijack the system and cause trouble.
“It wouldn’t be hard for someone to take control… I mean, if you programmed it to do something harmful, it could create a real issue,” he warned.
That said, the Astorians who spotted Astra distributing flyers seemed divided on robots, yet many couldn’t resist pulling out their phones to capture the moment.
“Seeing that thing at night? I’d probably kick it or something—it’s just odd,” said Andres Narbaze, fresh from kickboxing class. “I don’t fully believe in robots, but it does look pretty strong.”
Jenny G., a customer service rep, voiced concerns about a potential robot takeover: “It’s clear robots are the future. It’s going digital everywhere… A bit unsettling, really.”
Still, she added, “I just hope it doesn’t take jobs from people.”
Jimmy Phillips, a retired visitor from Florida, found Astra fascinating and likened it to an autonomous vacuum. “It’s impressive. It really mimics human movement,” he noted. “He runs like my wife. That’s good; he’s got energy!”
