Boston Dynamics, the Massachusetts-based robotics company known for its four-legged robots and humanoids, is undergoing a leadership transition.
Robert Playter announced in an internal memo Tuesday that he was stepping down as the corporate's chief executive. as first reported by A3. Amanda McMaster, the corporate's chief financial officer, will step in for the highest job while the corporate searches for a substitute.
Boston Dynamics sent TechCrunch the next statement: “Robert Playter is an icon of the worldwide robotics industry, and all the Boston Dynamics team would love to precise our sincere appreciation and gratitude for his leadership. From the beginnings of hopping robots to the world's first quadrupeds to spearheading all the humanoid industry, Playter has made a reputation for himself as a pioneer of innovation. He transformed Boston Dynamics from a small research and development laboratory right into a successful company that’s proud to be today “World market leader.” We will miss him dearly in mobile robotics, but we hope he enjoys his well-deserved break.
Playter took over the management of Boston Dynamics in 2020, replacing founder Marc Raibert. Playter worked for 30 years at Boston Dynamics, where he held other positions including vice chairman of engineering and chief operating officer.
Boston Dynamics was founded by Raibert in 1992 as a spin-off from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, where he was a professor. Google's parent company Alphabet bought Boston Dynamics in 2013 before selling the corporate to Japanese investment group SoftBank in 2017.
Hyundai, its current owner, acquired the corporate in 2021.
The robotics maker is best known for its four-legged robot Spot, which the corporate launched in 2020, shortly after Playter took the helm. Most recently, the corporate announced Atlas, a humanoid robot.
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