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Google Acquires Boston Dynamics, Maker of Animal-Inspired Robots

Boston Dynamics' WildCat Robot
Boston Dynamics' WildCat Robot (credit: screenshot by Stephen Shankland/CNET)

 

(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.

Dynamic Robot Manipulation by Boston Dynamics on YouTube

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.

More at CNET.com

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