Boston Dynamics Spot Timeline

Boston Dynamics announces integration with Google DeepMind's Gemini Robotics ER 1.6, giving Spot AI-driven reasoning for inspection tasks. Orbit 5.1 adds enhanced visual anomaly detection. The partnership signals a shift toward foundation-model-powered autonomy for industrial robots.

Boston Dynamics launches Spot Cam 2, a substantial camera upgrade featuring 4K resolution, 25× optical zoom, integrated radiometric thermal imaging, and a 360-degree spherical camera. The new camera also adds a security guard mode for perimeter monitoring.

Spot receives software updates incorporating foundation models that improve its ability to recognise hazards such as trailing wires, ladders, and rolling objects. The upgrade reflects Boston Dynamics' broader push to embed AI reasoning into its robot fleet.

Boston Dynamics rolls out a combined hardware and software update adding acoustic, thermal, and visual inspection automation features alongside new EOD (explosive ordnance disposal) integration for defence customers.

Boston Dynamics reports over 100 Spot robots deployed across 35 countries. Customers collectively automate more than 1 million data captures using the platform. The Orbit fleet management software expands to handle multi-robot coordination for large-scale facilities.

Hyundai finalises its purchase of an 80% stake in Boston Dynamics for $880 million (total company valuation ~$1.1 billion). SoftBank retains a 20% minority stake. The deal gives Boston Dynamics access to Hyundai's manufacturing expertise and global distribution.

Boston Dynamics reveals the Spot Arm, a 7-degree-of-freedom robotic arm attachment that adds manipulation capability. The arm features an integrated 4K camera and LED illuminator in the gripper, and can handle tasks including door operation, valve turning, and object retrieval. Available as a retrofit for existing Spot units.

After a year of limited early-access programmes, Boston Dynamics opens Spot sales to any qualifying commercial buyer. The base Explorer kit costs $74,500 and includes the robot, two hot-swappable batteries, a wireless controller, tablet interface, charging dock, and developer API access.

Boston Dynamics deploys Spot at Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston to carry out telemedicine functions, reducing exposure risk for healthcare workers. The robot carries a tablet and two-way radio, allowing doctors to remotely assess patients in triage tents. One of the earliest high-profile civilian deployments.

Boston Dynamics publishes the Spot SDK for Python developers on GitHub, opening the platform to third-party application development. The SDK gives developers access to Spot's perception data, locomotion controls, and payload interfaces.

The Massachusetts State Police bomb squad becomes the first law enforcement agency to deploy Spot, using it for bomb disposal and hazmat operations. The deployment draws public attention and raises questions about police use of robotic platforms.

Boston Dynamics starts an early-access leasing programme for select commercial and research customers. Around 75 units ship in the first batch. Customers include construction firms, energy companies, and research institutions testing Spot for site inspection and data collection.

At TechCrunch's TC Sessions: Robotics event, Boston Dynamics founder Marc Raibert confirms that Spot (then still called SpotMini) is in pre-production and the company is targeting commercial availability in 2019. It marks the first concrete commitment to selling the robot.

Boston Dynamics reveals a redesigned SpotMini with the now-iconic yellow shell. A video showing the robot opening a door using its arm goes viral, racking up millions of views and becoming one of the company's most widely shared clips. The redesign is noticeably smoother and more fluid in its movements than the 2016 prototype.

SoftBank Group purchases Boston Dynamics from Alphabet (Google) for an undisclosed sum. The acquisition ends a period of uncertainty about Boston Dynamics' future under Google, which had reportedly struggled to find a commercial application for its robotics research.

Boston Dynamics unveils SpotMini, a smaller, quieter quadruped weighing around 25 kg. Unlike the earlier BigDog, SpotMini is all-electric with no hydraulics, making it suitable for indoor environments. The prototype includes a robotic arm attachment for basic manipulation tasks. It sets the design direction for what will become the commercial Spot platform.