Google has been acquiring robotics companies with plans to implement robots in manufacturing settings (among other places), and as it turns out, the company has already been working with one well-known manufacturer to do just that.
The Wall Street Journal is reporting that since last year, Foxconn, known for making Apple hardware, has been working with Google’s Andy Rubin, who is leading the company’s robot charge. Foxconn reportedly wants to speed up deployment of Google’s efforts (which may include a robot OS) at its factories.
According to the report, Foxconn chairman Terry Gou “expressed excitement over new automation technologies demonstrated by Rubin.”
The New York Times revealed late last year that Goole had acquired seven robotics companies including Schaft, Industrial Perception, Meka, Redwood Robotics, Bot & Dolly, Autofuss (specializing in video production) and Holomni. Here’s a look at some of the technologies produced by these companies.
Later, news came out that Google had also acquired Boston Dynamics, makers of a variety of shiver-inducing robots.
It’s clear that Google possesses the technology and talent to build robots that can reach far beyond the manufacturing space (and into the wall-scaling Terminator space), but it would appear the company isn’t wasting any time in getting some real practical use out of some of these presumably sizable investments.
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