Google

Google's biggest 'moonshots' in photos

By // March 12, 2015, 1:00 AM PST // connerforrest

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  • Google Glass

    Perhaps one of its most public moonshots, Glass is a Google premium wearable device that presents a heads up display in front of the right eye of its wearer.

    Image: Google

  • Self-Driving Car

    The autonomous car is just that, a car built by Google that can drive itself. The car uses a Lidar system to navigate its surroundings.

    Image: Google

  • Project Loon

    Project Loon uses balloons to deliver internet access to people in remote and rural areas. The balloons can also be deployed after a disaster to provide additional coverage.

    Image: Google

  • Smart contact lens

    In partnership with pharmaceutical company Novartis, Google is working on developing a smart contact lens that monitors glucose levels though tear fluid. The lens could help people with diabetes better manage their blood glucose levels.

    Image: Google

  • Project Ara

    Project Ara is a modular smartphone designed with removable and interchangeable modules, such as camera and memory, to allow users to upgrade their device piece by piece. It has its own developer conference and is running a trial in Puerto Rico.

    Image: Google

  • Project Tango

    Piloted in both a smartphone and a tablet, Tango is a 3D imaging and mapping technology created by Google. In addition to creating a 3D map of its environment, it tracks the device's movements.

    Image: Google

  • Makani

    One of the only companies ever acquired by Google [x], Makani makes airborne wind turbine kites. The technology reduces the cost and materials needed to produce clean energy.

    Image: Google

  • Baseline study

    The Baseline Study is Google's attempt to fully map out what a healthy human being looks like. The project is headed up by Dr. Andrew Conrad and it will use genetic and molecular information from thousands of participants to builds its database.

    Image: Google

  • Project Wing

    Google's foray into drone-based delivery is called Project Wing.The project makes use of self-flying vehicles to deliver goods to customers, although it is still in the test phase.

    Image: Google

  • Calico

    Calico, short for California Life Company, is a biotechnology research and development firm created by Google. The company works to combat major diseases and the aging process.

    Image: Google

Google Glass

Perhaps one of its most public moonshots, Glass is a Google premium wearable device that presents a heads up display in front of the right eye of its wearer.

Image: Google

Related Topics:

Google Android Mobility Open Source Hardware Innovation Artificial Intelligence

About Conner Forrest

Conner Forrest is a Senior Editor for TechRepublic. He covers enterprise technology and is interested in the convergence of tech and culture.