KIVA Systems' robots (http://www.kivasystems.com http://www.kivasystems.com) revolutionized warehouse automation. Zappos was using KIVA when Amazon acquired Zap

KIVA Systems' robots (http://www.kivasystems.com http://www.kivasystems.com) revolutionized warehouse automation. Zappos was using KIVA when Amazon acquired Zappos, and then Amazon acquired KIVA for $775 million. See "Autonomous Robots Invade Retail Warehouses" (http://www.wired.com/wiredscience/2009/01/retailrobots/ http://www.wired.com/wiredscience/2009/01/retailrobots/) KIVA @ Zappos: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fdd6sQ8Cbe0 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fdd6sQ8Cbe0 I doubt Amazon is going to permit a contract between KIVA and Google so it will be interesting to see Google's innovations in this space.