748 points · 248 comments · 5 years ago · tazlor
therobotreport.compostingpals
karmicthreat
zxcvbn4038
ajit_singh
I understand that the valuation of a company is also determined by its earning potential but did Boston Dynamics have that so much that it justified this crazy valuation.
From what I know it barely made any revenue while being in business for more than 25 years. It couldn't find a customer to produce any of its hyped robots at scale. It was clearly a loss-magnet entity for Softbank which is in a selling mode in the wake of Uber/Wework disaster.
In any other country valuation like this would have become the subject of enormous assessment because outside the US, $1 bn still means a lot of money. But I think USA is beyond but I really do not understand the system which facilitates such transaction without the corresponding exchange in value. How is the money being made?
llboston
cjmaria
https://www.theverge.com/2020/8/11/21362322/hyundai-aptiv-mo...
syntaxing
freeflight
Interesting, I thought Spot was the first commercial product BD sold. But the Pick System seems like it would be much more viable for commercial application and adaption.
Particularly when combined with Hyundai's experience and presence in manufacturing, construction, healthcare [0] and even logistics [1] automation.
[0] https://control.com/news/a-look-into-hyundai-robotics-latest...
[1] https://www.supplychaindigital.com/technology/hyundai-improv...
karmasimida
williamtwild
Animats
Hyundai builds real things in quantity. This could work out.
cptskippy
valuearb
It’s an old but consistent story.
aussiegreenie
Even if either has a path to profitability.
christmm
dhruvarora013
blackrock
Or even a lawnmower.
This can become their cash cow, that they use to fund the R&D into their serious industrial robots.
thefourthchime
abhisuri97
totorovirus
osdotsystem
cpach
dukeofdoom
dancemethis
dec0dedab0de
nikolay
rakkhi
Slightly racist but lighten up its funny
sys_64738
Our economic system seems to have a natural tendency towards monopoly. This is happening before our eyes and we don't even realise it.