Google Acquires Titan Aerospace, The Drone Company Pursued By Facebook

Something unsettling about the feeling (founded or not) that a handful of tech juggernauts have the ability to buy up seemingly whatever they want.<p>This along with the anti-headhunting collusion, sprawling campuses puts me in mind of a Gibsonian future ruled by a handful corporate arcologies [0].<p>Has business always operated this way and I&#x27;m only now noticing because it&#x27;s happening closer to home?<p>0: <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arcology" rel="nofollow">http:&#x2F;&#x2F;en.wikipedia.org&#x2F;wiki&#x2F;Arcology</a>

So what&#x27;s the grand vision with the huge shift Google is making towards drones, robotics and automation? Does it provide them with a set of data about the movement of goods and individuals unavailable through other avenues? Most Google products tie back into some input useful for advertising. Is this the same, or is it some grand branch towards expanding into something new?

Google&#x27;s stated reason for the purchase makes sense, providing more internet connectivity, etc. I give them the benefit of the doubt on this one.<p>Off topic, but: my first two bosses at SAIC were Titan founders.

The behavior of public technology companies that throw off lots of cash is entirely predictable. They are utterly shitty allocators of capital, esp when run by &quot;visionaries.&quot; Some easy predictions:<p>-This acquisition will have zero to negative return on investment, just like Motorola.<p>-Oculus acquisition for 2B will have zero to negative return on capital<p>-WhatsApp will have zero to negative return on capital<p>The abuse of shareholder cash at cash-rich tech companies like Apple, Facebook, and Google is quite breathtaking to observe.

I think this type of initiative might also be used to provide more accurate location data for mobile users. accessing GPS satellites is sometimes challenging in cities (where most mobile users are) and a fleet of drones above each city could prove helpful.

Why the hell would Facebook be interested in a drone company? Google makes only slightly more sense.

Interesting move. More interesting that robotics companies are such hot takeover targets these days.

Very interesting company. Your next internet router : <a href="http://titanaerospace.com/platforms/solara-50" rel="nofollow">http:&#x2F;&#x2F;titanaerospace.com&#x2F;platforms&#x2F;solara-50</a><p>Can&#x27;t quite compete with what SpaceX is going to do today, but ... very nice. Doesn&#x27;t look like they&#x27;ve actually built the thing yet though.

Larry to Mark : So you acquired Whatsapp which I was planning to acquire..<p>No worries..<p>Here we go... Titan Aerospace !<p>#Joke

nothin&#x27; to see here folks. +movealong