Google's robot division is making strides - but don't expect a Googlebot on shelves any time soon
The firm is creating a dedicated division for the machines, but some experts question whether it will ever deliver a commercial robot product
Videos of Google-owned robots, some that look like mechanical bulls and others resembling humanoids from sci-fi movies, have been viewed more than 90 million times online.
Despite that YouTube fame, Google is reluctant to discuss its robotics operation publicly. Behind the scenes, the company is laying the groundwork for intelligent, multi-purpose robots, according to interviews with people familiar with the projects and research published in academic repositories.
As part of a restructuring effort to separate the Google internet services from research arms and unrelated businesses, the company will create a separate division for robotics within the renamed umbrella entity Alphabet, said a person familiar with the plans. Boston Dynamics - a maker of robots for the US military, Sony, and others that developed the robots popular on YouTube - will operate with some independence within the newly formed group, said the person, who requested not to be named because the plans aren't public.
The autonomy within Alphabet may help the company accelerate efforts to develop robotics systems capable of solving a wide range of everyday problems. Google's robotics group, which has grown substantially in the last two years thanks to at least eight acquisitions including Boston Dynamics, has already made strides. The company is using its immense resources to build machines that could someday serve as domestic helpers or security droids.
Research published periodically reveals technical breakthroughs and provides a road map for where Google robots are headed. For example, the company is experimenting with feeding short video clips into machines' electronic brains to improve their vision, according to a Google paper published online on September 4.
Google hasn't discussed how its robotics ambitions may someday turn into a moneymaker. Scott Strawn, an analyst at research firm IDC, doesn't expect Google to commercialise its technology any time soon. But robots are a natural extension of artificial intelligence, anarea Google has invested in for search and other products, he said.