Google confirmed today that it has acquired Boston Dynamics, the maker of the “Big Dog” robot. Boston Dynamics is world-renowned for its walking robots that have an amazing sense of balance and can even run faster than Usain Bolt.
This is Google’s eighth robotics company acquisition in the past six months. Google executives have not disclosed the specific purpose for its interest in robots but the acquisition of Boston Dynamics and its animal-like technology will certainly help in its robotics efforts. The deal indicates that Google may develop robots for warehouse distribution systems or even in elderly care.
Boston Dynamics was founded in 1992 by former MIT professor Marc Raibert. It has yet to sell a robot commercially but has been a trailblazer in off-road, mobile robotics technology. Its products have mainly been used by the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) and other defense customers. They also worked with Sony on consumer robot development such as the AIBO robot dog. Boston Dynamics’ walking robots are well known for their agility and ability to climb over tough terrain and navigate surfaces that are difficult even for humans.
A video shows their robot named “Big Dog”, a four-legged robot that can climb hills, walk through snow and even keep standing after being kicked by a person. Since 2008 when the video was first posted online, it has been viewed more than 15 million times.
Boston Dynamics has entered a range of human-like robots into the DARPA Robotics Challenge. The objective of the contest is to create robots that have the ability to work in natural disaster relief.
“Contests such as these are important in helping to solve important problems and we hope that the teams will provide some insight into disaster relief,” said Google Robot Project Leader Andy Rubin.
Boston Dynamics has designed robots that can climb walls and trees as well as other two and four legged walking robots. This is consistent with Rubin’s theory that computers will start to grow legs and move around.
A recent video shows the Boston Dynamics robot called Cheetah running on treadmill. The robot reached a speed of 29 miles per hour which is about one mile faster than the sprinter Usain Bolt.
The other robotics companies Google has acquired include companies from the United States and Japan that are involved in technologies such as advanced mechanical arms, grabbing technology and computer vision. Rubin also said he is interested in advanced sensor technology.
Rubin, who described his robotics project as a “moonshot program”, refused to disclose the specific products that will be produced. However, he said he did not expect initial product development to last for years which indicates that Google will be introducing commercial robots within the next few years.