Companies to Collaborate in Advancing the Development of Smart
Robotics Technologies
TOKYO -- (Business Wire)
SoftBank Group Corp. (“SoftBank”) today announced a subsidiary of
SoftBank has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire robotics
pioneer Boston Dynamics from Alphabet Inc. (NASDAQ: GOOGL, GOOG). The
transaction aligns with SoftBank’s investments in paradigm-shifting
technologies and its vision of catalyzing the next wave of smart
robotics. The terms of the transaction were not disclosed.
Masayoshi Son, Chairman & CEO of SoftBank Group Corp., said, “Today,
there are many issues we still cannot solve by ourselves with human
capabilities. Smart robotics are going to be a key driver of the next
stage of the Information Revolution, and Marc and his team at Boston
Dynamics are the clear technology leaders in advanced dynamic robots. I
am thrilled to welcome them to the SoftBank family and look forward to
supporting them as they continue to advance the field of robotics and
explore applications that can help make life easier, safer and more
fulfilling.”
Marc Raibert, CEO and founder of Boston Dynamics, said, “We at Boston
Dynamics are excited to be part of SoftBank’s bold vision and its
position creating the next technology revolution, and we share
SoftBank’s belief that advances in technology should be for the benefit
of humanity. We look forward to working with SoftBank in our mission to
push the boundaries of what advanced robots can do and to create useful
applications in a smarter and more connected world.”
As part of the transaction with Alphabet, SoftBank has also agreed to
acquire Japanese bipedal robotics company Schaft. Founded in 2012 in the
JSK Robotics Laboratory at the University of Tokyo, the company has
continued its pioneering work under the leadership of co-founders Yuto
Nakanishi, Junichi Urata, Narito Suzuki and Koichi Nishiwaki.
The transaction is subject to customary closing conditions and
regulatory approvals.
About SoftBank
SoftBank is a global technology player that aspires to drive the
Information Revolution. SoftBank is comprised of the holding company
SoftBank Group Corp. (TYO: 9984) and its global portfolio of companies,
which includes advanced telecommunications, internet services, AI, smart
robotics, IoT and clean energy technology providers. In September 2016,
ARM Holdings plc, the world’s leading semiconductor IP company, joined
the SoftBank group. To learn more, please visit www.SoftBank.jp/en/.
About Boston Dynamics
Boston Dynamics develops advanced robots, such as Next Generation Atlas,
Spot and Handle. Since its founding, Boston Dynamics has become a leader
in the design, development and field testing of advanced robots that
have agility, dexterity, perception and intelligence. For more
information visit www.BostonDynamics.com.
About Schaft
Schaft is a global leader in the field of humanoid bipedal robots. The
company's founders emerged from the renowned JSK Robotics Laboratory
within the University of Tokyo. Schaft is driven by its vision of a near
future society where bipedal robots perform critical industrial and
service tasks.
View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20170608006407/en/
Contacts:
Japan:
SoftBank Group
SoftBank Group Corp. Corporate
Communications
+81 3 6889 2300
sbpr@softbank.co.jp
or
US:
Sard
Verbinnen & Co
Benjamin Spicehandler / Hannah Dunning
+1-212-687-8080
SoftBank-SVC@sardverb.com
Source: SoftBank Group Corp.
© 2024 Canjex Publishing Ltd. All rights reserved.