Amazon Acquires Fauna Robotics, Entering Consumer Humanoid Field

Amazon.com Inc. acquired New York-based startup Fauna Robotics, becoming the latest technology giant to step into the burgeoning consumer humanoid market.

The cloud-computing and e-commerce giant closed the deal for Fauna last week, according to people familiar with the purchase, who requested anonymity to discuss a private matter. Fauna is developing a human-like, 42-inch tall robot with arms and legs that can interact with people, walk, grip items and dance.

Fauna started deploying the machine, called Sprout, to research and development partners in January. Sprout is smaller than rival humanoids, and Fauna sees it handling chores such as picking ...