The institute aims to utilise skills across AI, robotics, computing, machine learning and engineering to advance technology for robots and use it to develop their functionalities and effectiveness
Hyundai Motor Group and Boston Dynamics to launch the Boston Dynamics AI Institute (Credits: Gerd Altmann from Pixabay)
Hyundai Motor Group, along with Boston Dynamics, has announced to launch of the Boston Dynamics AI Institute to focus on fundamental advances in artificial intelligence (AI), robotics and intelligent machines.
Both firms will make an initial investment of over $400m in the institute, which will be led by Boston Dynamics founder Marc Raibert.
The institute is expected to focus on addressing the significant challenges in the development and creation of advanced robots.
It aims to utilise skills across AI, robotics, computing, machine learning and engineering to advance technology for robots and use it to develop their functionalities and effectiveness.
Boston Dynamics AI Institute executive director Marc Raibert said: “Our mission is to create future generations of advanced robots and intelligent machines that are smarter, more agile, perceptive and safer than anything that exists today.
“The unique structure of the Institute – top talent focused on fundamental solutions with sustained funding and excellent technical support – will help us create robots that are easier to use, more productive, able to perform a wider variety of tasks, and that are safer working with people.”
The culture of the institute is intended to integrate the features of university research labs with that of the corporate development labs while working in four core technical areas, namely, cognitive AI, athletic AI, organic hardware design and ethics and policy.
Along with developing technology with its own staff, the institute aims to collaborate with universities and corporate research labs.
The institute plans to invest resources across the technical areas of cognitive AI, athletic AI and organic hardware design which would help them to the anticipated advances along with each discipline contributing to progress in advanced machine capabilities.
It is planned to be headquartered in the Kendall Square research community in Cambridge, Massachusetts.
The institute is expected to hire AI and robotics researchers, software and hardware engineers, and technicians at all levels.
In June last year, Hyundai Motor Group acquired an 80% stake in Boston Dynamics from SoftBank in a deal worth $1.1bn.