The man behind Android is now working on a new long-term project for Google

Dec 4, 2013 13:10 GMT  ·  By

Google’s Andy Rubin, the guy who used to handle the Android mobile operating system, has moved on to a new division inside the company where he’s experimenting with robotics.

Of course, the fact that Google actually works on robots shouldn’t really surprise anyone. After all, they’re building up a driverless car and have managed to create wearable tech glasses, the New York Times reports.

The robot division is just one more of Google’s “moonshot” projects, where they like to experiment with crazy ideas until they can pull it off.

Like on many other occasions, Google has chosen not to talk about specific plans, but chances are they’re not joking around, especially with naming a person like Rubin as the department head. They’ve also been tight-lipped about the application of the products they hope to accomplish. After all, a driverless car and a wearable tech device with the form of a pair of glasses are pretty self-explanatory. But what about the robots?

Well, specialists believe that the robots would play a part in automating portions of an existing supply chain.

When should we expect some concrete results from Google? Well, it’s a long-time plan that, like the self-driving cars, could take around ten years to develop and iron out.

Regardless of when these robots come out and the form they’ll be available in, one thing is for sure, Google’s lab only works on tools they’ll eventually get to sell. So, the idea that the robots will replace workers isn’t necessarily the best one. We’ll just have to wait and see, I suppose.

The news, however, comes at the perfect time, effectively stealing Amazon’s thunder. Earlier this week, Jeff Bezos announced that in the next five years or so, the company would be using drones to deliver light packages in certain locations within half an hour.