Boston Dynamics Spot: AI model, chip, sensors and motors

Boston Dynamics Spot: AI model, chip, sensors and motors | Teardex

Brain layer 3 of 5

Senses

How the robot sees and hears the world.

Stereo camera pairsConfirmed

Cameras in pairs, like two eyes, so the robot can judge distance. Five pairs, giving black and white images all the way round.

Made by: Not named
Applies to: All versions
Sources
Checked: 21 Oct 2026

Every robot using Stereo camera pairs

Analog Devices ADXL357Body motion sensorIn store,€107.14Likely

A low-noise accelerometer chip that feels tilt and movement precisely. Photos of a Spot taken apart at a Tokyo trade fair show an Analog Devices ADXL357 accelerometer inside its body motion sensor.

Why not confirmed. Seen in a third party's teardown, not stated by Boston Dynamics; the unit's build year was not given.

Made by: Analog Devices
Applies to: Body motion sensor
Sources
Checked: 15 Oct 2026

Every robot using Analog Devices ADXL357

Velodyne VLP-16EAP 2 add-onIn store,US$4,000Confirmed

A spinning 16-beam laser scanner that maps everything around it to 100 metres. Boston Dynamics' spec sheet for the EAP 2 sensor kit names its lidar as a Velodyne VLP-16, reaching 100 m.

Made by: Velodyne
Applies to: EAP 2 add-on
Sources
Checked: 15 Oct 2026

Every robot using Velodyne VLP-16

Sony IMX290Spot CAM+ add-onQuote,US$10.88Confirmed

A camera sensor chip that sees well in low light. Boston Dynamics' spec sheet for the Spot CAM+ says its 360 degree camera uses five Sony IMX290 sensors.

Made by: Sony
Applies to: Spot CAM+ add-on
Sources
Checked: 15 Oct 2026

Every robot using Sony IMX290

Sennheiser MKE 600Spot CAM+IR add-onIn store,US$349Confirmed

A directional microphone that picks up sound from where it is pointed. Boston Dynamics' spec sheet for the Spot CAM+IR names its microphone as a Sennheiser MKE 600, for listening inspections.

Made by: Sennheiser
Applies to: Spot CAM+IR add-on
Sources
Checked: 15 Oct 2026

Every robot using Sennheiser MKE 600

Not the brain

Body

The motors, gears, hands and battery that make it move.

Joint actuators, model not namedIn-house,RoughlyConfirmed

The motor units that move each joint; the company does not give them a model name. Spot has 12 motor-driven leg joints, 3 per leg: two at the hip, which swing the leg sideways and forwards, and one at the knee. Boston Dynamics says each hip has 2 actuators and each knee has 1, and gives the hip's sideways range as plus or minus 45 degrees.

Made by: Not named
Applies to: All versions
Sources
Checked: 20 Oct 2026

Every robot using Joint actuators, model not named

Joint actuators, model not namedGear ratiosIn-house,RoughlyConfirmed

The motor units that move each joint; the company does not give them a model name. Boston Dynamics' developer docs list a 51 to 1 gear ratio at both hip joints and a top motor torque of 0.88 Nm before the gears. By our own sum that is roughly 45 Nm at the hip before friction losses; the docs do not say what kind of gearbox is used.

Made by: Not named
Applies to: Gear ratios
Sources

Ball screwConfirmed

A threaded rod with a nut that rides on ball bearings, turning a motor's spin into a strong straight push or pull. Spot's knee is driven by a ball screw and a push rod linked to the lower leg, so a spinning motor pushes the leg straight. Because of this linkage the knee is strongest in the middle of its range and weakest when fully bent or straight; its top motor torque is 1.5 Nm before the screw.

Made by: Not named
Applies to: All versions
Sources
Checked: 20 Oct 2026

Every robot using Ball screw

Spot ArmQuoteConfirmed

Boston Dynamics' add-on robot arm with a gripper that bolts onto Spot's back. The Spot Arm is an add-on with 6 degrees of freedom, meaning 6 joints that each move one way, and a reach of almost one meter. It lifts up to 11 kg, drags up to 25 kg, and its gripper has a 4K camera and its own light.

Made by: In-house
Applies to: All versions
Sources
Checked: 20 Oct 2026

Every robot using Spot Arm

Spot ArmArm gearingQuoteConfirmed

Boston Dynamics' add-on robot arm with a gripper that bolts onto Spot's back. Boston Dynamics lists a 101 to 1 gear ratio on the arm joints and 56.55 to 1 on the gripper finger, with top motor torques of 0.89 Nm at the shoulder and elbow, 0.23 Nm at the wrist and 0.20 Nm at the gripper. The shoulder lift and first elbow joint share two linked motors rather than one each.

Made by: In-house
Applies to: Arm gearing
Sources
Checked

Spot battery, 564 WhIn store,US$4,620 in 2020Confirmed

Spot's own rechargeable battery pack, sold by Boston Dynamics as a spare. Spot runs on a 564 Wh battery weighing 5.2 kg that gives about 90 minutes of average runtime and 180 minutes of standby, and recharges in about 60 minutes. The charger puts out 35 to 58.2 volts, and the travel power case holds two batteries and a charger so a spare can charge while the other is in use.

Made by: In-house
Applies to: All versions
Sources
Checked

Spot battery, 564 WhEarlier battery figureIn store,US$4,620 in 2020Confirmed

Spot's own rechargeable battery pack, sold by Boston Dynamics as a spare. Boston Dynamics' developer docs give an older battery figure of 605 Wh, with a top voltage of 58.8 volts and a typical runtime of 90 minutes. The current spec sheet says 564 Wh, so the pack has changed or been re-rated.

Made by: In-house
Applies to: Earlier battery figure
Sources
Checked

Spot battery, 564 WhSold separatelyIn store,US$4,620 in 2020Confirmed

Spot's own rechargeable battery pack, sold by Boston Dynamics as a spare. The Spot battery is sold separately as one of Boston Dynamics' Spot extras, along with the charger, dock and body panels. No price is shown and buyers are sent to sales; at the 2020 launch an extra battery was listed at US$4,620.

Made by: In-house
Applies to: Sold separately
Sources
Checked

Not disclosedBoston Dynamics does not say what type of gearbox is in Spot's joints, such as planetary or harmonic gears, or which companies make its motors, gears, bearings or battery cells.

Boston Dynamics does not say what type of gearbox is in Spot's joints, such as planetary or harmonic gears, or which companies make its motors, gears, bearings or battery cells.

We looked at
Checked: 20 Oct 2026

Boston Dynamics Spot

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Body

Build cost

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