Boston Dynamics
"Machines that move like animals."
The story
Boston Dynamics was founded in 1992 by Marc Raibert as a spin-off from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. The company emerged from Raibert's Leg Laboratory at MIT and Carnegie Mellon University, which established foundational scientific principles for highly dynamic robots. This research was inspired by the agile movements of animals, aiming to replicate such dexterity in robotic form.
Nancy Cornelius, a co-founder and the company's first employee, played a crucial role as CFO for a decade and VP of engineering on several contracts. Robert Playter also joined early as a co-founder after completing his PhD in Raibert's lab. Initially, Boston Dynamics focused on interactive 3D computer simulations for naval training. Their first significant physical robot, BigDog, a quadruped designed for the U.S. military with DARPA funding, marked a pivotal shift towards manufacturing advanced, mobile robots.
Challenges along the way
A significant challenge for Boston Dynamics has been the commercialization of its advanced military-funded research. While robots like BigDog showcased impressive mobility, their practicality for military use was hampered by issues such as noise, leading to the project being shelved. Transitioning from defense contracting to broad commercial availability, as seen with Spot, involved overcoming perception issues, with some viewers finding their robots "creepy" due to their almost lifelike persistence. The company's various ownership changes, from Google X to SoftBank Group and finally Hyundai, also reflect the ongoing challenge of finding a stable long-term vision and market for their pioneering robotics technology.
Major milestones
- 1992Company founded by Marc Raibert as an MIT spin-off.
- 2005BigDog quadruped robot created, funded by DARPA.
- 2013Acquired by Google X (later X, a subsidiary of Alphabet Inc.).
- 2017Sold to Japan's SoftBank Group by Alphabet Inc.
- 2018United States PatentFig. 24Systems and methods for controlling robotic behaviors (dynamic legged locomotion)US 9,975,249Read filing ↗
- 2019Spot robot becomes commercially available after years as a defense contractor.
- 2020Hyundai Motor Group acquired an 80% stake in the company from SoftBank.
- 2022Signed a pledge against the weaponization of its robotic creations.
- 2024Retired the hydraulic Atlas, introduced an all-electric version.
Prototypes & people
Currently stocked
