Boston Dynamics, owner of Spot the robot dog, is now officially part of Hyundai Motor Group

It’s official, the friendly robot dog, Spot, has a new owner. Softbank, Hyundai Motor Group, and Boston Dynamics announced Monday that Hyundai’s acquisition of a controlling stake in the robotics company is now complete. Hyundai and SoftBank revealed there was a deal as early as last year, and as of today, it’s official.

What’s the Deal?

In December of 2020, the motor group paid around $880 million for the controlling stake. Not enough details were divulged about the deal, but reports have it that Hyundai paid a whopping $1.1 billion overall for this transaction. The car manufacturer now owns an 80% stake in the robotics firm, while the previous owner, Softbank, owns the remaining 20% through an affiliate company.

The Backstory

To date, Hyundai is the third owner of Boston Dynamics. Founded in 1992, Google acquired it after 11 years, in 2013. In 2017, Softbank Group bought. It was mainly operated as an R&D (Research and Development) organization since its founding. When Softbank acquired it, commercialization had become the focus.

The Reasons Behind

The robot dog’s new owner didn’t disclose any reason behind the acquisition. The only assumption observers have is Hyundai’s interest in robots. This, after a previous announcement by the carmaker that they have a new division devoted solely to create “walking cars.” The excitement for what they’re going to do with this grand acquisition leaves spectators baffled yet expectant.

Video Announcement

The same day of the announcement, Hyundai released a video about the acquisition. Unfortunately, it’s not definitive as not many details are shown. What we can see, though, is Spot, the robot dog. In the video, Spot showcases his many talents, primarily as a guide dog to help the elderly.

Walking Cars

Hyundai’s Director of Product Management, Dr. Ernestine Fu, said that the acquisition will pave the way for the car company’s walking car concept. They are relying on Boston Dynamic’s technology to help them make it a reality. The idea was pioneered when the automaker debuted the Hyundai Elevate at the 2019 CES show in Las Vegas in October 2020.

With four extendable legs with wheels, the Elevate is among many car designs which Hyundai calls their “Ultimate Mobility Vehicles.” It aims to get you through challenging terrains that the Jeep Wrangler will find impossible to navigate. The production date hasn’t been announced yet, but the excitement is palpable.

Realization of Progress for Humanity

According to Boston Dynamics’ press release, Hyundai said that they aim to develop advanced technologies in the field of robotics. The objective is to enhance people’s lives, promote safety, and realize progress for humanity. 

The auto manufacturer also said that they are expecting to work with the robotic company to use both their strengths in manufacturing, logistics, construction, and automation. The two are planning to create a robotics value chain that will manufacture robot components, smart logistics solutions, and many others.

Hyundai also reiterated their support for the continued expansion of Boston Dynamics’ product lines and sales and service footprint worldwide.

Spot, the Robot Dog

Spot is Boston Dynamics’ first commercial robot launched in June of 2020. Since then, there are now numerous Spots operating around the globe. In February this year, the company introduced Spot Arm, a robotic arm that converts Spot into a platform for mobile manipulation. Its usage is for autonomous monitoring of job sites, among many others.

Boston Dynamics

A global leader in the development and deployment of mobile robots, Boston Dynamics has released Stretch. This is a mobile manipulator to move boxes out of trucks and into and around warehouses. Along with Spot, the company has three robots in its portfolio.

In the video stated above, you can see one of their other product lines, the Atlas. Here, the humanoid is dancing with a child. The company gives these robots agility, mobility, intelligence, and automation. The exact technology that is ideal in Hyundai’s objective of bringing their walking car concept to life.

On the other hand, Hyundai has extensive experience in building and designing product lines for mass production. Thus, it may seem that this acquisition is a marriage made in robot heaven.

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