Boston Dynamics (bostondynamics.com) Boston Dynamics Spot
by Boston Dynamics · June 2020
Boston Dynamics Spot is a quadruped robot designed for industrial inspection, public safety, and research applications. Its four-legged design allows it to navigate challenging terrain that wheels cannot handle, making it ideal for construction sites, oil platforms, and hazardous environments.
Capabilities
Specifications
Physical
Performance
Power & Battery
Sensing & Perception
Computing & AI
Connectivity
Safety & Environment
Control
Pricing and Availability
This robot is currently available for purchase from the manufacturer or authorized retailers.
Price last verified: March 2026
AI, Data & Privacy
Mixed - some data on-device, some in cloud
This robot uses a hybrid approach where some data is processed locally on the device and some is sent to cloud servers. The level of EU data protection depends on what data stays local versus what is transmitted. Sensitive data like camera feeds may be processed on-device while usage analytics go to the cloud. Review the manufacturer's privacy policy for specifics on what data goes where.
How to keep it private
Core locomotion, navigation, and autonomous missions run entirely on-device. FieldAI integration enables fully edge-based autonomous operation without cloud, GPS, or pre-mapped layouts. Orbit fleet management and telemetry reporting require network connectivity but can be deployed on-premise.
Orbit fleet management can be deployed on-premise via the Site Hub appliance or as a virtual machine (VMware, Hyper-V, Azure, GCP OVA). On-premise Orbit keeps all data within the enterprise network.
Available privacy controls
Disable automatic Performance Metrics transmission on the robot or in Orbit settings
Service Logs are only shared with Boston Dynamics when you explicitly opt to send them
Built-in face detection automatically obscures faces in Spot Cam images with black boxes for privacy compliance
Deploy fleet management on your own server. Boston Dynamics does not access Orbit Cloud Data unless explicitly permitted.
Customizable user permissions for data, missions, and settings with SSO support
Users control what image and acoustic data is included in Service Logs before sharing
Deploy Orbit on-premise via the Site Hub to keep all data on your network. Disable Performance Metrics in settings. Enable face blurring for areas with personnel. Only share Service Logs when specifically requested by Boston Dynamics support. Use FieldAI integration for fully disconnected autonomous operation.
What this means for EU residents
On-device processing for navigation and autonomy. Client-server architecture allows cloud-based applications to connect remotely. Data stays within enterprise network unless explicitly configured otherwise.
What the AI can do 7 capabilities
Security features 4 features
- encrypted-communication
- enterprise-network-security
- role-based-access
- api-authentication
Configurability details Full SDK
Full Python and gRPC SDK. Third-party payload development support. Autonomous mission creation, custom AI model deployment on compute payloads, and integration with external systems. Open API protocol for extending capabilities.
Research notice
The information above is compiled from manufacturer documentation, published privacy policies, independent security research, and community findings as of the dates listed in our sources. AI capabilities, privacy features, and data handling practices may change with firmware updates or policy revisions. We make every effort to be accurate, but errors are possible. Always do your own research before purchasing. Check the manufacturer's latest privacy policy and terms of service directly for the most current information.
Related Articles
Sources
All information on this page is based on the following sources. Links open in a new tab.
- Boston Dynamics Spot Product Page - accessed 2026-03-01
- Spot Technical Specs - accessed 2026-03-01
- Spot SDK Documentation - accessed 2026-03-29
- Spot SDK GitHub Repository - accessed 2026-03-29
- Boston Dynamics Spot Privacy Notice - accessed 2026-03-29
- Boston Dynamics Privacy Policy - accessed 2026-03-29
- Boston Dynamics Security Overview - accessed 2026-03-29