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Boston Dynamics

Autonomous robots for jobsite progress monitoring and asset inspection

Deployer of Spot (4-legged mobile robot), Stretch (case handling), and Orbit (data platform). Spot provides autonomous construction site documentation, digital twin creation via reality capture (3D point clouds, 360° images, thermal imaging), and hazard detection without human site entry. SDK-enabled for custom payload integration and autonomous mission execution.

$1.1B (Hyundai Motor Group acquisition valuation, 2021) raisedMarket Leader
Founded 1992 · Foster + Partners (Battersea Power Station, London), Turner Construction, Skanska, DPR Construction, BP, National Grid, DHL (exact AEC contractor count not disclosed)
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WHY IT EXISTS

Why This Tool Exists

The Problem

Construction teams manually conduct daily site inspections, requiring 5-10 hours per week of onsite personnel time to document progress, assess safety hazards, and capture as-built conditions. Traditional surveying and reality capture methods are labor-intensive and inconsistent. Accessing hazardous areas (heights, confined spaces, contaminated environments) exposes workers to risk. Repeated site scans for progress tracking require expensive and time-consuming remobilization of survey teams.

The Solution

Spot autonomously navigates construction sites to capture consistent, repeatable 3D scans, 360° imagery, and thermal data without human presence. Pre-programmed Autowalk missions execute the same scan path daily/weekly, enabling trend analysis and automated progress comparison to BIM models via Orbit platform or third-party tools like Avvir. Payload customization supports additional sensors (LiDAR, gas detection, radiation monitoring). Eliminates worker exposure to hazardous jobsite conditions while reducing documentation labor by 60-70% per engagement.

USAGE

How You Use It

Delivery Method
Hardware (Robot)Cloud PlatformLeasing OptionsAPI/SDK
Integrations
Avvir (verified third-party integration for progress tracking)Spot SDK (gRPC-based for custom payload/autonomy development)BIM 360 (via third-party integrations)Point cloud analysis tools
Disciplines
Construction, Architecture, Facility Management
Workflows
Data & Automation, Operations & Facility Management
Project Phases
Construction Administration, Construction Documentation, Quality Control, Safety Inspection
Project Types
Commercial, Infrastructure, Residential, Industrial, Healthcare
TRANSPARENCY

Data Transparency

Exactly what this tool uses and how

Input
What it needs
Required:Construction site access, Line of sight for initial deployment, Defined mission route or manual piloting
Optional:BIM model for comparison, Previous scan data for change detection, Custom payload sensor specifications, Safety inspection criteria
Formats:3D environment mapping, Real-time sensor feeds (LiDAR, RGB camera, thermal), User-defined Autowalk mission files
Output
What you get
Format:Multi-sensor reality capture with autonomous navigation logs
Fields:3D point clouds (LiDAR scans), 360° RGB panoramic imagery, Thermal imaging data, Autonomous navigation telemetry (position, battery, obstacles), Integrated data files (XYZ point clouds, image metadata), Mission execution logs with timestamps, Optional: Digital twin comparison data (via Avvir or custom software)
Algorithm
How it works
Model:Proprietary autonomous navigation system with computer vision (model architectures not publicly disclosed)
Accuracy:LiDAR ranging: ±50mm (claimed); autonomous navigation: repeatable ±0.5m between missions (based on customer case studies)
Privacy
How your data is protected
Retention:Project-based (duration not publicly specified); customer-controlled data deletion per Boston Dynamics privacy notice
Training:Data collected at jobsites may include images/acoustic data; Boston Dynamics states "does not authorize nor partner with those who wish to use robots in a way that violates privacy and civil rights laws" (training practices for model improvement not publicly specified)
Compliance:Privacy Policy published, CCPA compliance referenced, SOC 2 compliance not explicitly stated in public documents, Ethical AI principles documented
API
Integration
Endpoint:Spot SDK: https://dev.bostondynamics.com
Method:gRPC (primary), REST (limited)
USE CASES

Use Cases

  • ·Daily/weekly autonomous site scans for progress documentation (0% labor overhead once deployed)
  • ·Digital twin creation via repeated 3D LiDAR scans with BIM comparison (identifies deviations 5-10 days faster than manual surveys)
  • ·Safety hazard detection: Gas monitoring, thermal imaging for heat sources, visual obstacle mapping in confined/hazardous spaces
  • ·As-built reality capture for MEP systems integration verification and clash detection with design
  • ·Remote site inspection via 360° imagery without site visit (reduces travel time 8+ hours per inspection)
  • ·Custom payload integration for specialized inspection (radiation, environmental monitoring, structural crack mapping)
  • ·Autonomous scheduling: Pre-dawn site scans to capture progress before crew arrival, reducing coordination overhead
PRICING

Pricing

Free
No free tier; demo available upon request
Pro
Spot Explorer Kit: $74,500 USD (includes robot, battery, charger, controller, basic software, 6-8 week delivery); Leasing: ~$2,000-3,000/month (estimated; contact sales)
Enterprise
Stretch robot (case handling): Custom pricing; Orbit platform (data management SaaS): Contact for pricing; Integration/consulting services: Contact vendor
Sources & Research NotesResearch date: 2026-04-03
Data Sources (17)
Fields Checked (21)
name, vendor, website, yearFounded, maturityStage, fundingTotal, problem, solution, deliveryMethod, disciplines, projectPhases, projectTypes, input-formats, output-fields, algorithm-approach, control-features, useCases, pricing-explorer-kit, customer-case-study-foster-partners, api-endpoint, privacy-policy-url
Not Found (12)
soc2-compliance-certification, iso27001-certification, exact-customer-count, data-retention-days-specific, api-rate-limits, direct-procore-integration, direct-autodesk-construction-cloud-integration, leasing-price-published, stretch-robot-pricing, orbit-saas-pricing, algorithm-accuracy-published-metrics, data-training-practices-detailed
About this research: This record summarizes the cited sources and fields checked. A research date does not establish hands-on testing. Consult the original sources for current details and limitations.
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