Google had acquired seven robotics companies in the past 6 months to initiate a large-scale robotics-based project. Those Robotics companies are Schaft, Industrial Perception, Meka, Redwood Robotics, Bot & Dolly, Autofuss and Holomn.
The engineer heading this effort is Andy Rubin, the man behind the success of Google’s Android software.
Right now, Google’s robotics effort is not aimed at consumers. Instead, it is targeting the manufacturing systems, like electronics assembly, which is now largely manual.
This Robotics project will help Google for competing with companies like Amazon in retailing.
Google has 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 Google shopping service is available in a few locations like San Francisco, and it is already making home deliveries for companies like Target, Walgreens and American Eagle Outfitters.
Perhaps someday, there will be automated delivery to the doorstep, which for now is dependent on humans.
Rubin compared this Robotics effort with Google’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.”
