MIT’s Boston Dynamics Is Suing Ghost Robotics Over Robot Dog Plagiarism

Boston Dynamics needs to make sure its place within the creepy robotic canine market. The tech firm has filed a grievance towards Philadelphia-based Ghost Robotics claiming that the latter has infringed on Boston Dynamics’ patents.

The grievance, which was obtained and reported on by The Register, alleges that Ghost Robotics copied Boston Dynamics’ schtick of a semi-autonomous robotic canine with their Vision 60 and Spirit 40—a robotic that resembles Boston Dynamics’ Spot. Boston Dynamics factors out within the 110-page grievance that the way in which Vision 60 and Spirit 40 acquire sight info, course of environmental knowledge, and even climb stairs may very well be an infringement of a number of patents the MIT spinoff has gotten accepted since its founding in 1992. Boston Dynamics can be demanding a jury trial.

“Boston Dynamics, with its early roots in the robotics industry, has been and continues to be a pioneer and leading innovator in developing quadrupedal and bipedal robots,” the grievance reads. “Boston Dynamics’ early success with the Spot robot did not go unnoticed by competitors in the robotics industry, including Ghost Robotics.”

The Register factors out that Ghost Robotics—and their terrifying robotic canines—have visited Tyndall Air Force base in Florida in 2021 to “add an extra level of protection,” based on an Air Force press release. Ghost Robotics additionally visited Nellis Air Force Base in Nevada in 2020 to check out their canines based on a Business Insider article, which additionally stories that the corporate obtained an Air Force contract in April of 2020.

Much the identical means canines are man’s greatest buddy, Boston Dynamics and Ghost Robotics are legislation enforcement and armed forces’ greatest mates. As Gizmodo has lined extensively previously, Boston Dynamics has cashed in on nationwide safety—having beforehand partnered with the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency on their Atlas disaster response robot. Ghost Robotics has additionally been teaming up with the armed forces as their tech is slated to help patrol the U.S. southern border.

But when Boston Dynamics’ Spot initially went on sale, there was a can’t use it for evil clause. The firm has been adamant about its robots not getting used for weapons or to hurt folks, the place as Ghost Robotics appears completely glad to go all-in on navy. Still, the U.S. Military’s Defense Advanced Research Project Agency was an early backer of Boston Dynamics, however the firm has since pivoted its focus to extra civilian areas. With that in thoughts, Boston Dynamics may very well be feeling the warmth from a competitor in an area they usually management, therefore the grievance.