The Robotics and AI Institute tackles fundamental challenges in robotics and artificial intelligence to develop machines capable of perceiving, learning, and interacting with the physical world. Led by Marc Raibert, founder of Boston Dynamics, the organization operates facilities in Cambridge, Massachusetts and Zurich, Switzerland. The institute structures its work around four core research areas: Cognitive Intelligence, Athletic Intelligence, Organic Design, and Ethics - reflecting both technical ambition and deliberate consideration of how intelligent machines should function in society.
Research spans the technical stack from perception and machine learning to robot control, locomotion, and human-robot interaction. The organization maintains high-performance computing infrastructure and access to cutting-edge equipment to support development of next-generation robots designed to be more agile and capable than current platforms. Target applications include increasing productivity, removing humans from dangerous work environments, and providing assistive technology for individuals with disabilities.
The institute positions itself as a hybrid between academic research labs and corporate R&D organizations - combining the fundamental research orientation of academia with the resources, pace, and focus on deployment characteristic of industry. With substantial backing and infrastructure investment, the organization aims to advance the state of the art in how robots perceive their environment, learn from experience, and physically interact with unstructured spaces. The work directly addresses constraints that currently limit robot autonomy, dexterity, and real-world deployment across industrial automation and assistive technology applications.