Google buys 8 robotics companies in 6 months: Why?

Google's (GOOG) acquisition of military robotics maker Boston Dynamics has certainly gotten tongues wagging but has left one key question unanswered: Why?

Media reports about the deal didn't provide much insight other than to note that Boston Dynamics makes cool stuff. The search engine giant has named Andy Rubin, who  oversaw the development of the Android operating system, to head its  robotics endeavors, which the company has without irony called a  "moonshot." A spokesman for Google confirmed the acquisition but declined to answer any questions.

"The deal is also the clearest indication yet that Google is intent on  building a new class of autonomous systems that might do anything from  warehouse work to package delivery and even elder care," according to the New York Times.

Google, which has a market capitalization topping $357 billion, probably didn't break a sweat buying Boston Dynamics, which is based in the Boston suburb of Waltham, or the seven other robotics companies it has acquired in the past six months. The company has been making a splash with its robotics research for a while. It has been testing driverless cars since 2010 and according to its research, these vehicles were operated more safely with computer drivers than human ones. Google reportedly is in regular contact with automakers about its work in this area .

google preparing the company for the long term future