Putting the Boston in Boston Dynamics with Marc Raibert

TL;DR

Mark Raybert, Chairman of Boston Dynamics, discusses the Boston Dynamics AI Institute and the importance of research and development in the robotics industry.

Transcript

hey everybody my name is Bryant heater I am techcrunches Hardware editor I am very pleased to be joined once again it's actually been a few years by Mark raybert uh since his foundation in the early 90s Boston Dynamics has become one of the world's foremost robotics developers and researchers Mark the founder stepped down from the CEO role in 2019 ... Read More

Key Insights

• 😖 Boston Dynamics was founded in Boston due to personal connections and comfort with the city.
• 💗 The Boston tech ecosystem has grown significantly, with universities and startups driving innovation in robotics.
• 👨‍🔬 The AI Institute aims to bridge the gap between academia and corporate research, combining the research focus of universities with the resources of a corporate lab.
• 👨‍🔬 The Institute's primary focus is on long-term research and solving fundamental problems in robotics, rather than commercialization.
• 🌱 IP and patents are handled through a multi-pronged plan that includes spinouts and licensing.
• ❓ Boston Dynamics and the AI Institute have a loose connection but do not currently share intellectual property.
• 👨‍🔬 Differences between Boston Dynamics and the Institute include their focus (commercialization vs. research) and the emphasis on physicality vs. software and AI.

Questions & Answers

Q: Why was Boston Dynamics founded in Boston?

Mark Raybert grew up in the Boston area and had a personal connection to the city. Additionally, he was a faculty member at MIT before starting Boston Dynamics.

Q: What was Mark Raybert's background before starting Boston Dynamics?

Raybert worked at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory and Carnegie Mellon University before founding Boston Dynamics.

Q: How has the Boston tech ecosystem changed since Boston Dynamics was founded?

There has been a significant increase in robotics and tech startups in the Boston area. Multiple universities, including MIT and Northeastern, have active robotics programs.

Q: How does the Boston Dynamics AI Institute differ from universities like MIT and CMU?

The institute combines the research focus of universities with the resources and support of a corporate lab. It allows for larger-scale teamwork and the development of both hardware and software for robotics research.

Q: Will the Institute's research be focused on productization and commercialization?

No, the Institute's primary focus is on long-term research and solving fundamental problems in robotics. They aim to work on projects that have a horizon of five to ten years, rather than focusing on short-term product development.

Q: What is the relationship between Boston Dynamics and the AI Institute?

Currently, there is a loose connection between the two organizations, with Boston Dynamics providing support to the Institute. However, there is no sharing of intellectual property.

Q: How will the Institute handle IP and patents?

The Institute has a multi-pronged plan which includes the possibility of spinouts and licensing. The goal is to protect the Institute's research and allow for commercialization if desired.

Q: What are the differences between the work at Boston Dynamics and the work at the AI Institute?

Boston Dynamics focuses on commercialization and product development, while the Institute focuses on long-term research and solving fundamental problems in robotics. Boston Dynamics also prioritizes physicality and hardware, while the Institute is more focused on software and AI.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• Mark Raybert explains the origins of Boston Dynamics and why the company was founded in Boston.

• He discusses the role of the Boston Dynamics AI Institute and its focus on long-term research and development, rather than productization.

• Raybert talks about the relationship between Boston Dynamics and the Institute, as well as their plans for IP and patents.