According to a report by the Wall Street Journal, Andy Rubin, current head of Google's robotics department and creator of the Android operating system, has been working closely with Foxconn since last year.
Foxconn best known to the general public as the main sub-manufacturer of Apple devices. Of course, Apple is not the only company the Chinese company works with.
One of the most recent collaborations between Chinese Foxconn and American companies concerns its collaboration with Googlein the field of robotics. According to a report by the Wall Street Journal, Andy Rubin, the current head of Google's robotics department and creator of the Android operating system, has been working closely with Foxconn since last year.
Foxconn CEO Terry Gou and Andy Rubin reportedly met to discuss the latest developments in robotics technology, in an effort to accelerate the introduction of robots to Foxconn's production lines. Google, for its part, would like to see its robotics applications tested in practice.
Google has made a number of major acquisitions of robotics companies in recent months. In the past year alone, it has acquired eight companies, including Boston Dynamics, known for building robots that simulate animal movement, such as the BigDog, WildCat, Cheetah and Atlas models.
Market estimates suggest that Google is designing robots to absorb them in the industrial production of electronics, where today the work is mainly done manually. Google is also said to want to enter the field of product distribution. On the other hand, Foxconn wants to automate its factories, especially after the increase in labor costs in China. In addition, Foxconn faces continuous complaints regarding working conditions in its facilities in China. A massive use of robots would quickly and substantially solve its problems.
Source: naftemporiki.gr
