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United States 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.
A partnership between Boston Dynamics and the Robotics & AI Institute focuses on using reinforcement learning to build capabilities for humanoid robots, with an initial investment over $400 million from Hyundai.
Boston Dynamics and Hyundai Motor Group expanded their collaboration to increase manufacturing capabilities, with Hyundai also funding the Boston Dynamics AI Institute.
Marc Raibert, born on December 22, 1949, established a significant career in robotics research and development. He received his Electrical Engineering (BSEE) from Northeastern University in 1973 and subsequently earned his PhD from MIT in 1977. His doctoral research, titled “Motor control and learning by the state space model,” laid foundational work in understanding robot movement and control. Before founding 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. At Carnegie Mellon, he founded the Leg Laboratory in 1980, which focused on creating dynamic robots and was instrumental in developing the first self-balancing hopping robots, a key innovation in the field.
In 1992, Marc Raibert spun off from the MIT Leg Lab to establish Boston Dynamics, where he served as CEO and is currently the Chairman. Under his leadership, Boston Dynamics became known for developing highly mobile robots capable of navigating varied terrains. Notable robot creations include BigDog, Atlas, Spot, and Handle, which have demonstrated advanced mobility and balance. The company’s work has consistently pushed the boundaries of what robots can do in unstructured environments. Boston Dynamics was acquired by Google in December 2013, by SoftBank in June 2017, and then by Hyundai Motor Group in 2020. Raibert commented on these acquisitions, expressing his enthusiasm for the resources and vision provided to further robot development.
Raibert’s career reflects a sustained commitment to advancing legged robotics. In 2008, he was elected a member of the National Academy of Engineering for his contributions to biomechanically motivated analysis, synthesis, control, and application of multi-legged robots. More recently, in 2022, he became the Executive Director of the Boston Dynamics AI Institute, a Hyundai Motor Group organization, with a focus on long-term robotics research, aiming to enable robots to better understand their surroundings and integrate into daily life. His continued involvement in robotics, including his work with the AI Institute, aims to further the potential of robotic systems.
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