Google Acquires Boston Dynamics, Maker of Animal-Inspired Robots
(CBS SF/CNET) - Google has acquired Boston Dynamics, maker of Cheetah, BigDog, WildCat and other nature-inspired robots.
Google confirmed the acquisition in a Saturday New York Times report, which also broke the story earlier in December about former Android chief Andy Rubin leading a robotics push at Google.
Boston Dynamics gained Internet fame through YouTube videos of its agile, often gas-powered robots dealing with ice, snow, and other obstacles. It's easy to see why the Defense Department -- specifically the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) -- is interested.
Boston Dynamics has a lot of experience with quadrupedal robots, but more recently, it's developed its bipedal Petman, also funded by DARPA.
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