Boston Dynamics Company Profile: History, Ownership, Robots and Leadership
Updated: 7 days ago
Boston Dynamics is the American company behind the Spot robot dog, the Stretch warehouse robot and the Atlas humanoid. Founded in 1992 as a spin-off from MIT, it has been owned by Google, SoftBank and, since 2021, Hyundai Motor Group. This profile sets out its history, ownership, robots and leadership.
Boston Dynamics at a Glance
Fact | Detail |
Company | Boston Dynamics |
Founded | 1992, by Marc Raibert, as a spin-off from MIT |
Headquarters | Waltham, Massachusetts, USA |
Employees | About 1,000 |
Owner | Hyundai Motor Group, about 80%; SoftBank, about 20% through an affiliate |
Stock listing | None |
Chief Executive Officer | Amanda McMaster, interim, since February 2026 |
Company History and Ownership
Marc Raibert founded Boston Dynamics in 1992 to commercialize his research on legged robots. For two decades it lived mainly on research contracts, including work for DARPA and the US military that produced BigDog, LS3 and PETMAN and made its videos famous.
Three changes of owner followed. Google acquired the company in December 2013 for an undisclosed price. Alphabet announced its sale to SoftBank in June 2017, again without a stated price. In December 2020 Hyundai Motor Group agreed to buy an 80% stake from SoftBank for about USD 880 million, and it took control in June 2021. Under SoftBank and Hyundai the company moved from research to products, starting with Spot.
Key milestones
1992: Founded.
2013: Acquired by Google.
2016: Spot revealed.
2017: Sale to SoftBank announced.
2019: Spot becomes its first commercial robot; Kinema Systems acquired.
2020: Spot goes on general sale at USD 74,500; Hyundai deal announced.
2021: Stretch announced; Hyundai takes control.
2022: Pledge not to weaponize its robots.
2024: Hydraulic Atlas retired in favor of an all-electric version.
2026: Robert Playter retires as chief executive.
Robots
Robot | Description |
Spot | Four-legged robot used mainly for inspection and data collection at industrial sites |
Stretch | Warehouse robot with a mobile base and a seven-axis arm that moves boxes of up to 23 kilograms |
Atlas | Humanoid robot; the hydraulic research version was replaced in 2024 by an all-electric model |
Users of Spot named over the years include SpaceX, the oil company Aker BP, the Massachusetts State Police and National Highways in England, and Trimble formed a development alliance around it in 2020. Hyundai itself uses the technology, having unveiled a factory safety robot based on Spot in 2021.
Leadership
Name | Role |
Amanda McMaster | Interim Chief Executive Officer; previously chief financial officer |
Robert Playter | Chief executive from 2019 until his retirement, announced in February 2026 |
Marc Raibert | Founder and former chief executive |
The company is therefore in a leadership transition, with a permanent chief executive still to be named at the time of the sources used here.
Can You Invest in Boston Dynamics?
Not directly. Boston Dynamics has no listing. Its majority owner, Hyundai Motor Group, and its minority owner, SoftBank Group, are both listed companies. This is general information, not investment advice.
Strengths and Challenges
Strengths
Three decades of leadership in legged robot technology.
Commercial products in inspection and warehouse work.
A parent that is also a large potential customer for humanoids in car factories.
Challenges
An interim chief executive.
Well-funded rivals in humanoid robots.
No published revenue or profit figures.
Current Catalogue Coverage
Catalogue checked on 15 October 2026: 4 associated product records. The links below are representative entries, rather than a claim that every historical model is currently available.
Boston Dynamics FAQ
Who owns Boston Dynamics?
Hyundai Motor Group owns about 80% and SoftBank about 20%.
Is Boston Dynamics publicly traded?
No.
How much did Hyundai pay for Boston Dynamics?
About USD 880 million for an 80% stake, in a deal agreed in December 2020.
Who founded Boston Dynamics?
Marc Raibert, in 1992.
What robots does Boston Dynamics make?
Spot, a four-legged robot; Stretch, a warehouse robot; and Atlas, a humanoid.
Who is the CEO of Boston Dynamics?
Amanda McMaster has been interim chief executive since February 2026.
Sources
Wikipedia: Boston Dynamics
