Over the last half-year, Google has quietly acquired
seven technology companies in an effort to create a new generation of robots. The engineer heading the effort is Andy Rubin,
the man who built Google’s Android software into the world’s dominant force in
smartphones. Mr. Rubin compared this google
effort with the company’s self-driving car project, which was started in 2009. “The automated car project was science fiction
when it started,” he said. “Now it is coming within reach.”
At least for now, Google’s robotics effort is not
something aimed at consumers. Instead, the company’s expected targets are in
manufacturing — like electronics assembly or helping to pick things up in distribution
centers or the back rooms of grocery stores.
Google has also recently started experimenting with
package delivery in urban areas with its Google Shopping service, and it could
try to automate portions of that system. The shopping service, available in a
few locations like San Francisco, is already making home deliveries for
companies like Target, Walgreens and American Eagle Outfitters.
So what do you think it more likely to happen first? Amazon delivering packages by Drone or Google
robots driving in a google car to deliver a package?
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