Spot
Spot is Boston Dynamics' flagship commercial robot—a mobile quadruped roughly the size of a medium dog designed to navigate terrain where traditional wheeled or tracked robots cannot go. With four legs providing excellent traction and stability on uneven ground, stairs, and obstacles, Spot can walk across rocky terrain, climb stairs, and fit into tight industrial spaces while carrying sensors and payloads. The robot operates either under manual remote control or executes pre-programmed autonomous inspection routes, making it ideal for industrial monitoring, facility surveys, and hazardous area assessment where keeping people out of danger is critical.
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Specifications
Form Factor
Quadrupedal mobile robot
Length
1100 mm (43.3 inches)
Width
500 mm (19.7 inches)
Height Sitting
191 mm (7.5 inches)
Height Standing Default
610 mm (24 inches)
Height Range Adjustable
520-700 mm (20.5-27.6 inches)
Robot Mass With Battery
Approximately 33 kg
Max Speed
1.6 m/s (5.7 km/h)
Max Slope Climbing
±30 degrees
Max Step Height
300 mm (11.8 inches)
Runtime Mixed Operation
Approximately 90 minutes (varies with payload and terrain)
Standby Time
Approximately 180 minutes
Battery Recharge Time
Approximately 60 minutes
Battery Capacity
Approximately 560 Wh lithium-ion
Max Payload Capacity
Approximately 14 kg (30 lbs) on back payload rails
Terrain Sensing FOV
360-degree horizontal coverage with depth sensing
Terrain Sensing Range
Approximately 4 meters for obstacle detection in typical configurations
Ingress Protection Rating
IP54 (resistant to dust and water spray)
Operating Temperature Range
0 to 45 degrees Celsius
Control Interfaces
Tablet controller, web-based browser UI, Python/REST APIs
Autonomy Capabilities
Autonomous route learning and execution, docking and charging, collision avoidance, force-sensitive contact
Typical Applications
Industrial inspection (power plants, utilities, refineries), construction progress monitoring, oil and gas site assessment, public safety evaluation, research and development, thermal and visual surveys
Key Features
Feature
Four-legged design providing stability on stairs, gravel, rubble, and uneven industrial terrain
Feature
Agile mobility with ability to maintain balance even when pushed or encountering unexpected obstacles
Feature
Onboard 360-degree perception system enabling autonomous obstacle avoidance and navigation
Feature
Modular payload architecture allowing rapid swapping of cameras, thermal sensors, lidar, and custom instruments
Feature
Autonomous mission capability with repeatable route execution for consistent data collection over time
Feature
Robust industrial construction with IP54 ingress protection resisting dust and water spray
Feature
Hot-swappable battery packs minimizing downtime by allowing continuous field operation
Feature
Flexible control options from tablet-based teleoperation to cloud-managed autonomous missions
Feature
Docking station support enabling fully autonomous multi-shift operations with automatic recharging
Feature
Rich ecosystem of official and partner payloads optimized for inspection, mapping, communication, and custom sensing applications
Frequently Asked Questions
Spot's agile four-legged design allows it to access hazardous locations—confined spaces, unstable terrain, areas with toxic gases—that are unsafe for humans. The robot can be equipped with sensors for temperature, gases, or radiation, and its inspection routes can be executed autonomously or controlled remotely from a safe distance.
Payloads mount to a standardized rail system on Spot's back. Official Boston Dynamics payloads include compute modules, enhanced autonomy packages with lidar, thermal cameras, and communication kits. The system recognizes installed payloads and integrates them into the user interface and APIs.
Yes. Spot can execute pre-taught autonomous routes repeatedly with minimal human intervention. Operators can create and schedule missions through the Orbit software, allowing Spot to conduct inspections on a set schedule or triggered by events.
Spot uses onboard depth sensors and cameras to detect obstacles in real-time. Its perception system continuously scans the environment and adjusts the robot's path or stops to avoid collisions while walking at operational speeds.
In autonomous mode, Spot can return to its dock for automatic charging. In manual operation, the operator is alerted to battery status and can manually drive the robot back or swap the battery pack in roughly one minute.
Yes. Boston Dynamics provides APIs and Orbit integration with business systems via webhooks. Inspection data, thermal anomalies, and alerts can be automatically exported to maintenance management systems, work order platforms, or custom analytics pipelines.