Boston Dynamics announces commercial sales of Spot Robot

Robotics company Boston Dynamics has launched online sales for Spot, its dog-like robot able to climb stairs and traverse rough terrain.

This debut marks the first time that businesses can purchase a Boston Dynamics robot and the company’s first online sales offering. Spot will set businesses back $74,500.

Spot can perform a broad range of tasks and owners can reconfigure it to fit their needs. From increasing efficiency to reducing safety risks in the workplace, Spot’s platform is easily configurable. It also offers a number of accessories and add-ons for further customization.

Spot was previously only available for short-term lease under Boston Dynamics’ early adopter program. Under the program, over 150 Spot robots helped companies document construction progress, monitor environments and provide situational awareness.

In the early adopter program, results included:

• Approximately 20 hours of work saved per week by automating the weekly capture of 5,000 images on Quebec-based construction firm Pomerleau’s building project.
• Increased efficiency in data-collection and safety at Hensel Phelps’ construction of Denver International Airport’s main terminal.
• Reduced human risk in dangerous tasks for AkerBP’s energy-production facilities by using computer-vision-based anomaly-detection software.
• Autonomously navigating underground terrain with NASA Jet Propulsion Lab Team CoSTAR’s integrated autonomy, perception and communication tools. This application won the most recent DARPA Subterranean Challenge Competition, the Urban Circuit.

Marc Raibert, chairman and founder of Boston Dynamics, said: “At Boston Dynamics, we have spent decades creating and refining robots with advanced mobility, dexterity and intelligence because we believe agile robots can solve a broad range of real-world problems.”

“The combination of Spot’s sophisticated software and high performance mechanical design enables the robot to augment difficult or dangerous human work. Now you can use Spot to increase human safety in environments and tasks where traditional automation hasn’t been successful,” Raibert continued.

Spot is intended for commercial and industrial use only and is currently available for purchase in the US. Boston Dynamics will continue to lease Spot to customers in select international markets.