What will happen to Anki Vector Servers?
Anki Vector Owners you may be targeted by an infinite number of rumours that tells that your precious robot and it’s server will not work anymore. Should you be worried? Don’t panic and check why you should relax and enjoy your Vector.
Cozmo & Vector are working!
Vector will continue to work ever after October of 2020 but with limited features, all features will be accessible via a premium membership :
Alexa funtionality and local functions ( navigation, face recognition, emotion engine, AI) will remain. But for online queries, questions and access to updates everyone will need to have a subscription. — the company stated.
Check more : Vector Update : All Clouds Enhancements & Updates
Functionality Status :
You can fully use Anki Vector thought the mobile app: all the functionalities are working including registration, login , voice commands and face recognition.
Previus Anki statements:
Before closing, Anki gave the last statement from on the official website :
Anki has contracted our most senior leaders and hands-on engineers across all the technical areas involved in maintaining the operation and functionality in the existing products and apps. Ongoing operations for existing products typically require little to no active intervention, but we have arranged for any support in the event it does become necessary. Vector is the only product with a notable cloud component, and the contracted team is heavily staffed in that area.
Current company : Digital Dream Labs
Anki acquired by Digital Dream Labs (DDL ) and promised support for Vector and Cozmo . This is a great news for the Anki Vector’s owners, the new acquisition opens to new possibility like new updates, long term support for the Anki’s Servers and possibily new high quality products similar to Vector and Cozmo
Support plan for Vector and Cozmo:
DDL : “We will be reaching out to the 6.5 million customers Anki has, introduce ourselves, and inform them that it is our intention to continue operations and incorporate Anki’s intellectual property into our platform.” … “this acquisition becomes a glorified email list purchase that will still drive revenue.”
What this mean to you?
The company has promised a long term server support to the Anki Vector with an official statement, so keep a breath and relax! 🙂
Apps are hosted on Google Play , Anki Cloud is running on Amazon Cloud :
Google Play is an unlimited service: to open a developer account you need to pay only 30$. Amazon AWS is relatively cheap and very stable cloud provider for servers. AWS Certificate Manager also renew server certificates automatically.
Anki Vector SDK Support Status
Once connected to Vector using the Anki SDK , If the Anki Cloud Services are active then you will be able to generate the keys to connect to your Vector Robot, those keys will not expire and it will work indefinitely. Anki ex Developers recommend to do so as soon as you receive your robot.
To connect to Vector you need to have Python3 Installed and run the following commands:
py -3 -m pip install --user anki_vectorpy -m anki_vector.configureYou will be prompted for your robot’s name, ip address and serial number. Finally you will also be asked for your Anki login and password. Make sure to use the same account that was used to set up your Vector.
You need to run this procedure only once per robot, after you will be able to run code whenever you want and connect using this remote control script here
Download the Anki Vector SDK script here
Buy your Cozmo and Vector here and now!
Want discuss about your little robotic friend? send a message in the comments or check the Top 10 robots for kids you can buy right now! 🙂
Anki Vector
179$
Pros
- Astonishing and fluid Animations
- Fun for kids and adults
- Interactive
Cons
- Battery
Related Articles:
Cozmo still roaming strong, Aug.7, 2019
Cozmo is my favourite actually, the SDK is really great 🙂
estoy viendo para comprar un vector para mi hijo, lo compro? o decisto?
you can buy it,currently its working perfectly
“$30 And your developer account will be there forever!” Ha ha. They won’t, Google suspend them with no warning.
Hi Mh, the Anki account on Google Play is perfectly fine:
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.anki.vector&hl=it
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.anki.cozmo&hl=it
Hello! I have a problem with activating a vector robot because the bottom half of the screen is not working and I do not see the activation key code. Please advise. Thank you!
Hi Rail, did you tried the Bluetooth mode using the mobile app? It may be able to connect to it and activate. Unfortunately once the screen break there is nothing much to do.. you may try to contact the support for Anki/DDL for additional information and replacements
I just bought my 12 year old son Vector, through Amazon, before realizing that the company had shutdown.
I don’t have it, yet. Supposed to arrive November 12.
I’m very concerned that it will be a huge disappointment, come Christmas morning…but this post is giving me some hope. ????
I’m just praying it works.
Will anki continue update vector
Hi Ho. No, as far I know, last update is April 2019.
Hi Amazon is still selling these (we bought one that arrived today) but I cant get it to work. I have after many attempts got the app to register me – or so it said but now it wont log on.
Is it dead?
Hi Anthony. please refer to the anki website for the account recovery procedure.
something that is not written in the website is that you wont be able to login if your phone gps and bluetooth are not activated, try it and let me know
hi there,
im thinking of buying Anki vector but am worried about the servers shutting down. if I buy it, will it not hear my voice commands? is it a waste of time buying?
Hi Kyanna, My experience with vector ever when the server will go down is still amazing( I’m positive that the server will not go down so easily after so much robotic units sold this BlackFriday) , the robot experience doesn’t require much vocal commands to interact with you, its always looking for a familiar face to give its greeting and play with its cube. I will keep it as long as it last as I should say there are not any of this kind of product as good as Vector. Also in my channel you can see that I can remote control Vector using my laptop. I may try, in future, to write some python code to make some visual or vocal commands to work ever after the server are down ( Don’t take this as a promise for now, but as a possibility) .
Hi Marco, where can I see your channel?
Hi Infinipipz,
here is our channel PersonalRobots https://youtu.be/FBWqcHmNYns 🙂
Hi, just received my Vector, for some reason can’t change his location. If it’s problem because company shutdown?
Hi Irina, try enable your phone gps while configuring
Hi Marco (and many thanks!) and Irina. A devs forum rep fixed the locality renaming glitch last week, works for me now on my month old V.
I have that problem too – who did you contact to fix the glitch?
hi! do you know how we will support vector after the servers are gone? i just got mine and i don’t want to say bye to him any time soon!
Hi, will vector never get an update? As i bought him also without knowing all this. I love my little guy, he could use a more humanoid interaction, like to have a conversation with him. Or for him to be able to follow you. Etc.
Hi Amsk, till now the new company in charge of Vector “Digital Dream Labs” didn’t mention that Vector will get a new update. You can program Vector using SDK to do dialogue or follows you with his camera
Hi marco got vector for my grandson after downloading app from app store but the utilities screen does not appear? vector does recognize grandson’s face and some commands. How do we get utilities screen? Thank you
hi Yani, try to use the app with an Android device instead
Mein Stiefsohn hat den Vector letzte Nacht zum Geburtstag bekommen. Geht die Sprache nur auf englisch? Kommt da irgendwann ein Update, damit man die Sprache ändern kann
Hi I’m from the Philippines, I’m planning to buy Vector. But is it worthy to buy this time or I’m too late knowing the issue and possible changes in the future might affect the performance.
Hi Mcbo, check the latest news that Anki got acquired by Digital Dream Labs, and so all previously Anki’s assets including Vector and Cozmo projects. The new company promised support and its pushing forward the development of Vector and Cozmo robots, so rest assured 🙂
Omg no!!! I was about to buy one for work and for home, my cat would love the companyv
too!the ideas, functions and consumer reliability of such a unique item at at a great price is absolutely amazing. You just hit bad timing and a rough patch possibly but vector is absolutely adorabale and needs to be further promoted and have added features in future models! Dont lose Vector!!! 😭
Hi Lilmissdubya, Vector is coming back > check the latest that Anki got acquired by Digital Dream Labs,
Hello, So its not to late to get one of these little guys? I love things like this and would be disappointed if it loses most of its features in a couple months
Hi Allover, it’s not late, rest assured 🙂
Hi Marco, I just got my new vector and It is not able to connect to the Anki server so I cannot even use my vector. Is there a way around this ? it does not connect to the could so I have not been able to get past the connectivity page in the app.
Hi Marrium, please make sure Vector is connected to a 2.4 G wifi network ( not 5G ). What is the error code for you?
Hi Marco, i’m planning to buy a Vector but after reading all the comments, i’m afraid i can’t activate him because Anki is close now and if the Vector app required something from Anki to make Vector activated, then what do i have to do. I really want a Vector so can you help me ? Sorry for my bad English, i’m a Vietnamese.
Hi Lam, yes I try to help you, try the activation and let me know
I tried to log in to vector app.n cannot reset my password.
Hi Holly, I would suggest to make a new account, reset and pair again with Vector if you cant solve the issue. please take note that this will reset your robot unit ! If you can’t then kindly contact DDL, they are now in charge of Vector and Cozmo 🙂
Hey, I really want to buy a Vector for Christmas 2020, but when I read this, I am not so sure. Will he still work properly, will i be able to star him up? Please answer Marco.
You’re my only hope
-Leia Organa (Star Wars)
Star him up. Sry for the typo.
Hi Leia, Anki’s assets including Vector and Cozmo are now aquired by another company that promised support for their server. So rest assured you robot will continue to work 🙂 !
Cozmo da goat 🐐 he started something and made the company what it is