8 Cool Projects Funded by Google's Secret Research Company - ThomasNet News

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Is it possible to generate electricity from the Earth’s magnetic field by laying a giant copper ring around the North Pole? Can carbon-neutral fuel be developed from seawater? How long until human beings are zooming around via jetpack, and when will teleportation become a reality?

These are just some of the ideas interrogated and ultimately discarded by X.

In 2010, Google’s founders Larry Page and Sergey Brin formed X (formerly known as Google X), a semi-secret research company seeking to address the world’s most intractable problems, improving the lives of millions of people and making the world a radically better place.

Today, X’s innovation lab, known as the Moonshot Factory, exists as a subsidiary of Google’s parent company Alphabet.

Because company philosophy dictates that even the most outlandish ideas are taken seriously, it’s unsurprising that less than half of X’s investigations go on to become formal projects. For the ones that do succeed, “graduation” from X to become a standalone company is the typical outcome.

With the year 2020 marking X’s tenth birthday, it seems fitting to honor some of the company’s most successful and impactful “moonshots” to date.

1. Loon

Loon’s network of stratospheric balloons is designed to help nearly four billion people across the globe living without internet access. Partnering with mobile network operators to extend their LTE reach, the balloons provide coverage to those in remote and unserved communities and during the aftermath of natural disasters.

In 2013, a sheep farmer in Canterbury, New Zealand became the first person to connect to a Loon balloon via an internet antenna on the roof of his home.

After Hurricane Maria hit Puerto Rico in 2007, the balloons delivered connectivity to more than 200,000 people.

2. Glass Enterprise Edition

Google Glass’ wearable smart glasses were a major flop within consumer markets. However, the latest iteration of the device, Google Glass 2.0, has established itself within factories and warehouses and is now being used by more than 100 organizations.

Manufacturers and factory workers can work faster and more safely thanks to the Glass Enterprise Edition. No longer will employees be distracted from the task at hand, which could very well put them in danger, by having to consult a manual or guide. Instead, the device intuitively fits into the user’s workflow, boosting engagement, and reducing mistakes.

DHL reported 15% increased supply chain efficiency following its adoption of Glass Enterprise Edition. Meanwhile, healthcare professionals can benefit from being able to maintain eye contact with their patients while medical notes are automatically transcribed.

3. Wing

Wing made drone delivery history when it became the first organization in the U.S. to receive a Part 135 certification, authorizing it to operate as a commercial drone airline. With the goal of reducing traffic and pollution, Wing made its first deliveries back in 2014 when it provided first-aid supplies to farmers in Queensland, Australia.

Since graduating from X in 2018, Wing has gathered data on more than 100,000 flights and catered to customers in the U.S., Australia, and Finland.

The organization has proved itself particularly useful in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. With libraries closed, Wing began delivering library books to children in Virginia to ensure they still have access to reading throughout the crisis. Medicine, toilet paper, baby food, and other essential supplies have also been delivered to Virginian residents throughout lockdown.

4. Verily

Verily is committed to advancing medical technology and transitioning the medical profession to a preventative care model, which will ultimately lower the overall cost of healthcare. The organization’s work includes the development of smart contact lenses that can measure biological markers in a patient’s eye and nanotech that can identify and latch onto cancer cells.

Last month, Verily partnered with Cognizant to help facilitate COVID-19 testing throughout the United States. To date, Verily’s ‘Baseline COVID-19 Testing Program’ is operating in more than 140 testing sites across 13 states.

5. Waymo

Starting out as the Google Self-Driving Car project in 2009, this organization eventually graduated from X in 2016 and became Waymo. Waymo’s self-driving cars are fitted with sensors and software that can detect hundreds of objects 360 degrees around the vehicle.

Considered the leader in autonomous tech, Waymo has collaborated with Fiat-Chrysler and Jaguar to expand its offerings.

Last month, Waymo partnered with Volvo Car Group to integrate its technology with a mobility-focused electric vehicle for ride-hailing services.

6. Dandelion

Dandelion, which graduated from X in 2017, provides geothermal heating installation in a bid to reduce heating costs and carbon emissions. This clean, abundant, and renewable resource moves homeowners away from conventional heating methods, boasting low installation costs, and high-performance equipment. The system uses a heat pump and underground pipes to move heat between the earth and the home. The ground loops move heat into the home in winter, and in summer they return heat from the home back into the ground.

7. Chronicle

Established in 2016, Chronicle helps organizations to better manage cybersecurity through the speedy identification and prevention of attacks by finding patterns within vast quantities of data.

Last year, Google Cloud announced that it would be acquiring Chronicle from X where it would become part of Google’s security portfolio.

8. Makani

Acquired by X in 2013, Makani produces wind energy using T-shaped kites. Requiring 90% less material than a traditional wind turbine, the energy kites are 85 feet wide and have eight turbines tethered to the ground capable of generating 600kW. Makani graduated from X in February 2019 and separated from Alphabet one year later.

Image Credit: Courtesy of Makani

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