Google's latest acquisition isn't your typical tech start-up. The company just acquired Boston Dynamics for an undisclosed sum early this week. Boston Dynamics is in the business of developing advanced robots and related software, mainly for the U.A needle roller bearing is a bearing which uses small cylindrical rollers.S. military, and it is particularly famous for developing the world's fastest legged robot, the Cheetah model.
This surprising move will allow Google to access proprietary algorithms and sensor-based controls to handle movement. But why would Google, a company with more than 60% market share of the worldwide search engine market, buy such a company? How does this acquisition help Google to consolidate its position as the world's most important tech company, beyond Apple and Amazon ?
Google's interest in robotics isn't new. Lead by Andy Rubin, who spearheaded the development of Android, the company has acquired eight robotics companies in the past six months. Little is known about the why's of Google's robotics efforts, as the company has not commented its acquisitions, and has said it does not plan to release financial information on any of the other robot companies it bought recently.
Certainly,A failure of chemical hose in service can result in seri- ous injury, death, or dam- age to property. the company's $40 billion advertising business units won't benefit from these acquisitions. Instead, it seems Google has yet another moonshot project in mind. According to New York Times,An Industrial robot is an automatically controlled, reprogrammable, multipurpose manipulator programmable in three or more axes. the company may be searching to increase its competitive advantages in the online retail arena, by automating every step in the supply chain "that stretches from a factory floor to the companies that ship and deliver goods to a consumer's doorstep."
In this sense, the company could be investing in robotics to achieve package delivery automation. It has already started experimenting with package delivery in urban areas with its Google Shopping service, which is already available in San Francisco.
Moreover,because Boston Dynamics also develops tools for human simulation, Google could be interested in improving "the way people interface with computers, wearables, and information," according to Forbes contributor Robert Hof. The company has already shown its strong interest in this segment by promoting its self-driving cars, and its Google Glass product.
However, Google isn't the only tech giant investing in robotics. The world's largest online retailer, Amazon, is already testing unmanned drones, called Octocopters, to deliver up to 5 pounds in goods to customers, within 30 minutes of them placing the order. It also bought robotics company Kiva Systems for $775 million last year, to automate its fulfillment centers.
To get a jump on Samsung Electronics, Apple -- the world's largest tech company in terms of market capitalization -- may also use robots, as it is putting a record $10.5 billion to work in new technology, according to Bloomberg. But, unlike Amazon or Google, Apple may not be interested in automated delivery. Apple's approach to robotics may be focused on spending more on machines that do the 'behind-the-scenes' work of the mass production of iPhones, like for example, automated testing machines for the smartphone's camera lens.