Google acquires Boston Dynamics

Google has acquired Boston Dynamics, an engineering firm specializing in robotics, known for its quadruped robot products with peculiar gaits and astonishing capabilities. Among the products Boston Dynamics has showcased in recent years are the motorized BigDog robot that can clear snow and ice, the Cheetah robot that can run at 29 miles per hour, and the bizarre humanoid robot PETMAN.

Boston Dynamics was originally established in 1992 as a spin-off from MIT and quickly began collaborating with the U.S. military. In addition to BigDog, both the Cheetah and its successor, WildCat, were developed through Boston Dynamics' partnership with the military. Furthermore, the company has also developed Atlas, a humanoid robot specifically designed for outdoor operations.