Executive Summary
Boston Dynamics, an American robotics company acquired by Hyundai Motor Group, is suing its rival, Ghost Robotics, for allegedly infringing its patent. According to analysis, this decision on the ongoing legal dispute between the two quadrupedal robot manufacturing giants could reorganize the structure of the future robotics industry.
Boston Dynamics claims that its seven patent technologies were directly or indirectly copied without permission in “Vision 60” and “Spirit 40” of Ghost Robotics.
In regard to the core technologies, such as robotic systems and parts, that are at issue in this lawsuit, Boston Dynamics has secured patented technologies including “Systems and Methods for Robotic Self-Right” (U.S. Patent No. 9,308,648), “Robotically Negotiating Stairs” (U.S. Patent No. 11,123,869), “Handling Gait Disturbances with Asynchronous Timing” (U.S. Patent No. 9,387,588), “Systems and Methods for Robotic Self-Right” (U.S. Patent No. 9,662,791), “Perception and Fitting for a Stair Tracker” (U.S. Patent No. 11,073,842), “Screw Actuator for a Legged Robot” (U.S. Patent No. 10,253,855), and “Screw Actuator for a Legged Robot” (U.S. Patent No. 11,131,368).
Boston Dynamics argues that, even though Ghost Robotics was already aware of patent infringement, the firm intentionally ignored the patents and manufactured and sold its robot in the U.S. market. In particular, while Boston Dynamics tried to suggest resolutions such as licensing several times since 2020 before filing this lawsuit with the court, the defendant refused.
Ghost Robotics, along with Boston Dynamics, is considered a leading developer of quadrupedal drone robots. Specifically, the firm launched its first commercial robot in 2015, followed by “Vision 60” in 2019 and “Spirit 40” the next year in 2020.
Meanwhile, Hyundai Motor Group who acquired Boston Dynamics for $880 million USD (about 1.15 trillion Korean Won) in 2020 has launched Boston Dynamics AI institute recently, and invested over $400 million USD (about 520 billion Korean Won) as early stage investment, with the goal of making fundamental advances in artificial intelligence, robotics and intelligent machines.