Marc Raibert

Marc Raibert is a recognized leader in robotics, known for founding Boston Dynamics and advancing the field of dynamic robots that interact with complex environments. After founding the pioneering Leg Laboratory at Carnegie Mellon University in 1980, Marc Raibert became instrumental in developing the first self-balancing hopping robots, a key innovation that laid foundational work in dynamic robot movement and control. Raibert earned his Electrical Engineering (BSEE) from Northeastern University in 1973 and subsequently his PhD from MIT in 1977, where his doctoral research, ‘Motor control and learning by the state space model,’ significantly advanced the understanding of robot movement. Prior to establishing Boston Dynamics, Raibert held academic positions as a professor of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science at MIT and an associate professor of Computer Science and Robotics at Carnegie Mellon University, contributing to early advancements in the field.

Demonstrating a sustained commitment to advancing legged robotics, Raibert became the Executive Director of the Boston Dynamics AI Institute in 2022, a Hyundai Motor Group organization. The Institute focuses on long-term robotics research, aiming to enable robots to better understand their surroundings and integrate into daily life. That same year, he presented his work at the IEEE/RSJ International Conference on Intelligent Robots and Systems in Kyoto and at Bloomberg’s New Economy Forum in Singapore. Most recently, a new all-electric Atlas robot, a testament to continued research and development, made its debut in 2024.