Google throws it's hat in to the ring of Robotics?

[Kyanbu The Legend]

Source: http://money.cnn.com/2013/12/16/tech...ynamics-robots

Google has acquired Boston Dynamics, a company known for developing super-fast, animal-like robots with strong ties to the U.S. military.

Boston Dynamics founder Marc Raibert confirmed the purchase to CNNMoney.
"We are excited and looking forward to taking robotics the next couple of steps, working as part of Google's gangbuster team," he said.

The purchase is part of Google's (GOOG, Fortune 500) broader push into the field of robotics, led by Andy Rubin, the man responsible for developing the Android platform for smartphones.

Google has quietly purchased another seven robotics firms over the past six months, with some of the companies heralding the start of a "robot revolution."


Raibert declined to comment on the price Google paid for his company, and wouldn't elaborate on plans for product development.
Boston Dynamics has built a strong reputation for its heavy-duty robots that can run faster than Usain Bolt, climb walls like a gecko and jump as high as 30 feet.

It works with the U.S. military to develop advanced robots and has close ties with the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, or DARPA.

The firm has won nearly $140 million in contracts from the U.S. Department of Defense since 2000, according to the USASpending.gov ?website. Over the same period, Google made less than $300,000 from defense contracts.


The acquisition comes as technology firms step up their experimentation with using robotics to offer services: Amazon (AMZN, Fortune 500) announced earlier this month that it was hoping to use unmanned aerial vehicles -- or drones -- to make deliveries to customers.

Google has already entered the race to commercialize driverless cars. Nevada became the first U.S. state to license the vehicles last year.


Making Amazon drone delivery a reality
Google CEO and co-founder Larry Page wrote in a public post this month that he was excited about Andy Rubin's newest project.
"It is still very early days for this, but I can't wait to see the progress," he wrote.

Boston Dynamics was founded in 1992 after being spun out from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

And this is why the world needs a Megaman/Megawoman. We have our Dr.Wily now we need that good old Dr.Light.

[Magus]

I for one welcome our new robot overlords.

[Overcast]

Getting this kind of Shadowrun, pre-megacorp feeling.

[Grandmaster_Skweeb]

Google's CEO & Chairman are both also big backers of Planetary Resources for asteroid mining. Coupled with they're relatively recent dalliances with NASA and the acquisition of Boston Dynamics it would appear that Google is throwing their weight in for the big picture game.

Robotics, space, technology. Three of my favorite things!