The Vice President of Robotics Research at Boston Dynamics, a U.S. robotics subsidiary of Hyundai Motor Group, has decided to leave the company.
This move, along with the departure of other key technology leaders including the Chief Executive Officer (CEO), and the influx of financial executives, is seen by some as a signal that Boston Dynamics is gearing up for an initial public offering (IPO).
On Monday, Scott Kuindersma, Vice President of Robotics Research at Boston Dynamics, announced his resignation through his LinkedIn account, according to automotive industry sources.
Kuindersma, who joined Boston Dynamics in 2018 after serving as an assistant professor of computer science at Harvard University, spearheaded the development of the company’s humanoid robot, Atlas.
Reflecting on his tenure, Kuindersma remarked that it’s been an incredible journey leading up to the launch of Atlas, which is set to revolutionize industrial automation. He added that he plans to spend time with friends in the immediate future.
Kuindersma’s departure is part of a recent exodus of technology leaders from Boston Dynamics. On February 10, CEO Robert Playter announced his retirement from the robotics industry after a 30-year career, with his last day set for February 27. Playter’s departure comes just seven years after assuming the CEO role.
Playter, a Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) graduate, served as Boston Dynamics’ Chief Operating Officer before becoming CEO in 2019. During his tenure, the company introduced several groundbreaking robots, including the four-legged Spot, the logistics robot Stretch, and the fully electric humanoid robot Atlas.
Last July, Aaron Saunders, Boston Dynamics’ Chief Technology Officer, also stepped down. Saunders was instrumental in the company’s robotic hardware development for two decades.
He earned acclaim for his work in reducing the weight of the hydraulic Atlas and transitioning it to an electronic drive system. Four months after leaving Boston Dynamics, Saunders joined Google DeepMind as Vice President of Robotics.
Industry analysts interpret these changes as Boston Dynamics’ strategic shift from a research and development focus to a more business-oriented approach in preparation for an IPO.
The appointment of Amanda McMaster, the company’s Chief Financial Officer, as interim CEO further suggests efforts to optimize cost structures and revenue models ahead of the potential public offering.
In a related move, Hyundai Motor Group has established a Business Planning Task Force Team under Vice Chairman Jang Jae-hoon. This team will concentrate on new business strategies, including robotics and artificial intelligence technologies.
This organizational change is viewed as a strategic move considering both Boston Dynamics’ potential IPO and possible governance restructuring within the Hyundai Motor Group.
