Boston Dynamics company managed to create is similar in size and weight to a person walking robot, confidently holding the balance and remaining at the same time autonomous in terms of energy. Does this mean that humanoid robots are about to supersede the person from office ?
If we believe the traditionally pragmatic edition of Bloomberg, who owns Boston Dynamics Holding Alphabet, which has grown from Internet giant Google, doubts the ability of the robotic unit to start production of serial production in the coming years, which can be sold at a profit. Now for the Boston Dynamics it looks for the new owners, among the candidates referred to the research unit of the auto giant Toyota Motor and Amazon. Last of the companies interested in robots in terms of optimizing the operations of the movement of goods in the warehouse.
Boston Dynamics has become an asset of Google in 2013. In 2014, Rubin left Google, and the corporation did not manage to consolidate the work of 300 engineers involved in the creation of a variety of robotic products.
In November, according to the sources, a collection of Google management has sounded the problem: on the development of Boston Dynamics spent more than 30% of the budget Replicant robotic units, while the prospects for the release of serial products are moved abroad decade. Google is clearly not satisfied - need to either reduce costs or speed up time to market. Replicant Division after the creation of the holding Alphabet in December last year became part of Google X - structure engaged in advanced development.
Demonstration video walking through snowdrifts robot has caused Google PR-specialists unexpected reaction - they wanted more distance from Boston Dynamics, because they considered that such robots will be associated in humans with the competitors in the labor market, causing a negative attitude against Google. Given the combination of these factors, Alphabet holding company is now planning to sell Boston Dynamics.