Android founder Rubin leaves Google to focus on business incubator

Former Android head Andy Rubin is reportedly leaving Google just after Sundar Pichai received a promotion at the company.

Rubin was the co-founder and CEO of Danger and the founder of Android, which was acquired by Google in 2005. Today, the Wall Street Journal reported that Rubin will leave Google, and Google has confirmed the news.

As smartphones became more popular around the world, Rubin provided Google with crucial leadership and vision, helping it stay away from rival Apple. Within Google, Rubin kept his Android team independent of other departments for many years. For a time, the Android team had its own dedicated restaurant at Google headquarters.

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However, as early as 2013, Rubin stopped serving as the head of Android business and switched to Google's robotics project. In the past year, Google has gradually built its own robotics and drone departments through a series of acquisitions. In December 2013, Google acquired Boston Dynamics, a developer of mechanical beast robots. In April 2014, Google acquired Titan Aerospace, a solar drone manufacturer. In August this year, Google unveiled a drone delivery project called "Project Wing", which is expected to become a competitor to Amazon Prime Air one day.

The Wall Street Journal reported that Rubin will continue to be involved in the development of robots. He has already set up an incubator for startups interested in robotics hardware. Google said that Google research scientist James Kuffner will take over Rubin's position as head of Google's robotics business.

Rubin's departure will be a blow to Google's robotics business. However, Kuffner is also a "veteran" in this field. He has been engaged in the development of intelligent robotics technology for more than 20 years.

Rubin's Android business has been replaced by Pichai, who has now become senior vice president of Android and Chrome and Google's application software business. Last week, Google announced that Pichai will be responsible for more products, in addition to the products mentioned above, including Google+, maps, search, e-commerce, advertising and infrastructure.

Google CEO Larry Page said in a statement: "I wish Rubin all the best in the future. The great product he developed, Android, has made more than a billion users happy. Thank you." (Kirk)