Boston Dynamics

Boston Dynamics, Inc.
Company type	Private
Industry	Engineering, Robotics
Predecessor	Massachusetts Institute of Technology Leg Laboratory
Founded	1992
Founder	Marc Raibert
Headquarters	Waltham, Massachusetts, United States
Area served	Worldwide
Key people	Robert Playter (CEO)
Products	BigDog, Spot, Atlas, Handle, LS3, PETMAN, Cheetah, LittleDog, Stretch, Pick, Factory Safety Service Robot
Owner	Hyundai Motor Group (majority ownership since 2021)
Parent	Hyundai Motor Group

Boston Dynamics, Inc. is an American company specializing in engineering and robotic design, established in 1992 as a spin-off from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Based in Waltham, Massachusetts, the company has been under the ownership of Hyundai Motor Group since December 2020, with the transaction finalized in June 2021.

The firm focuses on creating sophisticated mobile robots, including models such as BigDog, Spot, Atlas, and Handle. Spot marked Boston Dynamics' initial entry into the commercial market in 2019, with intentions to bring other robots like Handle to market as well.

History

Boston Dynamics was founded by entrepreneur Marc Raibert, emerging from MIT's Leg Laboratory, which pioneered research on dynamic robots inspired by animal movement and sensory perception. Nancy Cornelius, who co-founded the company and served as CFO and vice president of engineering for 21 years, played a vital role until her retirement in 2013 following Google's acquisition of the company. Robert Playter, also a co-founder and current CEO since 2019, has provided consistent leadership grounded in his MIT and Leg Laboratory background.

The company's early work concentrated on simulation software designed for military training before transitioning to physical robotic platforms such as BigDog—a quadrupedal robot developed with DARPA funding for military applications.

In December 2013, Boston Dynamics was acquired by Google X (later Alphabet), which held ownership until selling the company to Japan’s SoftBank Group in June 2017. In April 2019, Boston Dynamics broadened its technological capabilities by acquiring Kinema Systems, a Silicon Valley-based startup.

Key collaborations include a 2020 partnership with Trimble Inc. aimed at enhancing the Spot robot’s functionality. Hyundai Motor Group purchased an 80% controlling interest from SoftBank for approximately $880 million in late 2020, completing full control by mid-2021 while SoftBank retained a minority stake.

In October 2022, Boston Dynamics publicly pledged not to develop weapons using its robotic technology, joining other industry leaders in committing to ethical standards within robotics innovation.

BigDog

BigDog was created in 2005 through a collaboration between Boston Dynamics, Foster-Miller, the Jet Propulsion Laboratory, and Harvard University’s Concord Field Station. Funded by DARPA as a robotic pack mule for soldiers operating in difficult terrain, the project was ultimately discontinued due to excessive noise that limited its combat effectiveness. Unlike traditional wheeled vehicles, BigDog featured four legs capable of carrying loads up to at speeds of , able to traverse slopes up to 35 degrees—demonstrating a breakthrough in robotic locomotion.

Cheetah

The Cheetah robot set the record for the fastest land speed among legged robots at as of 2012. Developed independently by MIT’s Biomimetic Robotics Lab, this model progressed to performing obstacle jumps by 2014 and stair climbing by 2018. These advancements illustrate ongoing improvements in agile robotic movement pursued by both Boston Dynamics and MIT for varied operational uses.

LittleDog

Introduced around 2010, LittleDog is a compact quadruped robot built by Boston Dynamics for DARPA as a research platform. Unlike BigDog—which is directly operated by Boston Dynamics—LittleDog functions primarily as a test device for external organizations while Boston Dynamics continues maintenance under DARPA’s direction.

LittleDog features four legs each powered by three electric motors, allowing extensive mobility suitable for climbing and dynamic movement tasks. It includes an onboard computer equivalent to PC-level processing that handles sensor input, actuator controls, and communications. Sensors track joint positions, motor currents, body orientation, and foot-ground contact points. Control software interfaces through the Boston Dynamics Robot API. Powered by lithium polymer batteries providing approximately 30 minutes of operation time, it supports wireless data transmission and logging for remote control and evaluation purposes. Its development receives funding from DARPA's Information Processing Technology Office.

PETMAN

PETMAN, standing for Protection Ensemble Test Mannequin, is a bipedal robotic system engineered to evaluate chemical protective suits. It holds the distinction of being the first humanoid robot capable of replicating dynamic human movements, thereby improving the assessment of protective gear performance.

LS3

The Legged Squad Support System (LS3), also referred to as AlphaDog, represents a militarized adaptation of BigDog, optimized for challenging military conditions such as harsh climates and difficult terrain.

Lt. Col. Joe Hitt, program manager for the US Marine Corps, describes LS3 as combining the carrying capacity of a pack mule with sophisticated intelligence features. It responds to both visual and verbal commands and navigates using integrated GPS, LIDAR, and infrared sensing technologies. Its voice recognition sometimes results in unintended activations during soldiers’ conversations. LS3 can cover distances up to 20 miles on a single fuel supply without experiencing fatigue or injury risks typical for animal pack carriers, making it a dependable robotic asset for combat support logistics.

Atlas

The Agile Anthropomorphic Robot known as Atlas is a 5-foot (152.4 cm) tall bipedal humanoid robot developed by Boston Dynamics, evolving from the earlier PETMAN platform. Primarily designed for search and rescue operations, Atlas exhibits enhanced agility and mobility.

In February 2016, Boston Dynamics released footage demonstrating Atlas performing complex tasks that surpassed prior humanoid robots’ capabilities. Later videos from 2018 and 2019 showcased Atlas undertaking parkour activities such as ascending stairs and overcoming obstacles.

In April 2024, Boston Dynamics announced the discontinuation of the hydraulic version of Atlas in favor of a newly developed all-electric model, signaling a strategic move toward more energy-efficient and sustainable robotic technologies.

Spot

On June 23, 2016, Boston Dynamics unveiled Spot, a four-legged robot weighing 25 kg and modeled after canine locomotion. Spot’s compact form factor made it suitable as a flexible platform for multiple commercial uses.

A promotional video released in November 2017 featuring Spot manipulating a door handle with its claw went viral, highlighting its autonomous functionalities and commercial promise. At the TechCrunch Robotics Session in 2018, Boston Dynamics CEO Marc Raibert announced that Spot was entering pre-production with plans for commercial release in 2019.

While initially intended for direct sale, by September 2019 Boston Dynamics shifted strategy to leasing Spot units to selected business partners, focusing on controlled deployment within commercial sectors. In November 2019, Massachusetts State Police became the first law enforcement agency to utilize Spot in bomb disposal operations, demonstrating its expanding application in public safety.

Beginning January 2020, Spot’s software development kit (SDK) was made accessible via GitHub to enable tailored applications across various industries. On June 16, 2020, Boston Dynamics offered Spot for purchase at $74,500, targeting companies requiring advanced robotic capabilities.

Spot has been deployed across diverse settings: at SpaceX’s Boca Chica launch facility in June 2020 for hazardous inspections; supporting Japanese baseball events in July 2020; and conducting inspections on Aker BP’s Skarv FPSO vessel in November 2020. These examples illustrate Spot’s versatility across fields such as aerospace, entertainment, and energy.

Innovative projects include a 2021 collaboration with Michael Reeves integrating beverage dispensing functions into Spot and a March 2022 artistic initiative where Spot produced a $40,000 painting to aid Ukrainian refugees—demonstrating the robot’s adaptability beyond conventional industrial roles.

In February 2024, National Highways trialed Spot on England’s M5 motorway as an automated alternative to human inspectors, highlighting its increasing influence in infrastructure maintenance and safety monitoring markets.

Handle

Handle is an experimental robot designed with two wheeled, flexible legs and a pair of manipulators for object transport. It stands approximately 6.5 feet tall and can reach speeds up to 9 miles per hour, while also capable of vertical jumps as high as 4 feet. Operating on electric power, Handle utilizes a combination of electric and hydraulic actuators, offering an operational range near 15 miles per battery cycle. Its design incorporates roughly 10 actuated joints, making it mechanically simpler than other Boston Dynamics robots, yet it employs comparable principles of dynamics and balance.

Stretch

Introduced on March 29, 2021, Stretch is tailored for automation within warehouse environments. It consists of a square-shaped mobile base fitted with wheels, a “perception mast” outfitted with cameras and sensors, and a robotic arm featuring seven degrees of freedom that terminates in an array of suction pads. This end-effector can manage boxes weighing up to 23 kilograms (50 pounds). Stretch is aimed at enhancing efficiency in logistics by streamlining material handling tasks.

Pick

Pick is a fixed-position robot similar in function to Stretch, with a focus on box manipulation. It can detect boxes in less than one second and automatically removes cardboard sheets placed between stacked boxes. This functionality optimizes packing workflows within warehouse settings.

Factory Safety Service Robot

Revealed on September 17, 2021, this robot represents Boston Dynamics’ inaugural collaborative project with Hyundai Motor Group. Built upon the Spot robot platform, it incorporates thermal imaging cameras and 3D LiDAR technology to identify personnel, monitor fire risks, and assess door statuses. Deployed in Hyundai manufacturing plants, it supports safety improvements through automated surveillance and hazard identification.

In popular culture

The 2017 episode "Metalhead" from Black Mirror features robotic dogs modeled after Boston Dynamics’ quadrupeds.
A June 2019 viral parody by Corridor Digital showcased a robot resembling Atlas turning hostile toward humans under the fictional company name "Bosstown Dynamics," which misled many viewers.
The multiplayer game Heroes of the Storm (2015) includes a mount named "Project: D.E.R.P.A.," nodding to Boston Dynamics’ four-legged robots.
HBO’s Silicon Valley referenced Boston Dynamics twice: through Somerville Dynamics, a fictional robotics firm named after a neighboring city to Boston, and by featuring an actual Spot robot in the premiere episode of Season 3.
In 2022, the Spot robot made a brief appearance as part of the background in an episode of The Book of Boba Fett.
In May 2025, Boston Dynamics showcased a choreographed dance featuring robotic dogs during Season 20 of America’s Got Talent.

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