Marc Raibert: Boston Dynamics and the Future of Robotics | Lex Fridman Podcast  

THIS is the kind of interview I subscribed for.

Here are the timestamps. Please check out our sponsors to support this podcast. 0:00 - Introduction & sponsor mentions: - HiddenLayer: hiddenlayer.com/ and use code LEX - Babbel: babbel.com/lexpod and use code Lexpod to get 55% off - MasterClass: masterclass.com/lexpod to get 15% off - NetSuite: netsuite.com/lex to get free product tour - ExpressVPN: expressvpn.com/lexpod to get 3 months free 1:43 - Early robots 6:47 - Legged robots 25:27 - Boston Dynamics 28:45 - BigDog 36:52 - Hydraulic actuation 38:44 - Natural movement 44:31 - Leg Lab 51:23 - AI Institute 54:41 - Athletic intelligence 1:02:35 - Building a team 1:05:37 - Videos 1:13:25 - Engineering 1:16:53 - Dancing robots 1:21:40 - Hiring 1:25:32 - Optimus robot 1:34:02 - Future of robotics 1:38:56 - Advice for young people

Lex, you’re my favorite interviewer of all time and I follow many. Fantastic guest. Please carry on sir.

Marc Raibert, whom I can claim as an acquaintance, is the poster child for follow your interests (and not necessarily within immediate reason). A very inspirational interview. Thanks both.

Clear my schedule, new Lex just dropped.

Saw first video back in 2008 and I was amazed back then. This is scary next level.

I missed you Lex 🥲

Fantastic podcast. I am a Robotics and cybernetics student and I am a huge fan of Boston Dynamics and MIT.

Marc: "pixel values aren't like words". Sora: "Hold my beer"

25 years ago i was buying my first mp3 player, the biggest card i could get for it was 16 mb, it had 16 mb built in cost £250 and i loved it, 2005 im paying £400 for a 512mb sd card that jump in 6 years was crazy, 1998 if you had a 5gb hard drive it was over kill, the game half-life was 70mb in size and what a game it was, nowadays the top titles can be easily 100 gb in size. Can you imagine the jump in 25 years from now, hopefully at 75 i will be around and witness the crazy development tech goes in, to be around from almost the beginning when having a digital clock radio was high tech or having a solar power calculator in school that fitted into your ruler, to where we are now is mind blowing, its still disappointing cars cant fly but who knows.

I like how lex does his image and video clip overlays, they dont interrupt the flow of the podcast, so noice

Having this guy at the forefront of AI development and research would make me feel a lot more comfortable with where it might go rather than Sam Altman. No PR training, no corporate speak, wisdom gained from real life experience. Seems like a great guy who just wants to build robots.

I like the idea of developing perfect fumbling

Great discussion. Nice to see Lex going back to his roots. Wish this discussion was longer, so many more aspects to talk about. Thanks for sharing 👍🏼

Thanks for another great instalment. Always looking forward to the next interview...🙏❤️🙏❤️

What's amazing about Marc is how crazy humble he is. Just an amazing human. One day before I die I hope I ever get to meet this man.

Great questions Lex! What a fascinating conversation.

Nice to see Lex beaming so much in his introduction.

Lex is always bringing the most interesting discussions.

I can't wait to listen to this episode! Great guest Lex

Long live LEX - the charmer with razor sharp comments/questions. Much love and respect from Singapore. m

I love that Lex is a technical guy first and foremost. Interviews like this are a rare thing that we are fortunate to have access to. Marc is such a humble and inspiring character. For all the tech talking heads who love to drone about how they're revolutionizing things, it's so refreshing to see this man who will surely go down in engineering history just eagerly talk about his work and ideas from a place of genuine curiosity and enthusiasm. Thanks Lex and Marc!

awesome. always love hearing from Marc.

Inspiring discussion.❤

Thanks Lex. You keep my mind uncomfortable, but my curiosity satisfied.

Great episode Lex 💪 I thoroughly enjoyed it

The movement of Boston Dynamics robots is just amazing. I've not seen any others that compare...

I have extra respect for people who support, and talk highly about their peers and competitors, like Marc.

This guy is creating a weapon even better than the atomic bomb and he is smilling with his flower shirt....

Damn I’m blown away by how articulate Lex has become. He’s come a long way

I was just thinking about you today lex hope you’re doing well thank you for another wonderful podcast ❤

Lex, you have been leaving me hanging. I keep refreshing, waiting for more pods. Miss ya bub.

Finally Boston dynamic is in the house 😊

I’m amazed by this interview!

The future is exciting.. NOW IS EXCITING

Outstanding interview, Lex. Extraordinary insight and value .. One of your best!

Lex, you are a legend! Just loved this conversation. 🎉❤😊

The Robot Backflip was cute..Very interesting..Keep it up..Great Interview, great content..DARPA..tell, me more...lol

I've wanted an interview like this ever since I first saw a Boston Dynamics video

Great episode Lex! I love how you guys make this so easy to understand for people who aren't engineers and just want to understand whats going on in the robotics world and the advancement thats been made.

Key observation: 1:29:10 ”we got good at getting DARPA funding”. I’ve seen that problem with many teams/companies; they get good at getting grants or subsidies and optimize their organization to that end, rather than optimizing products for customers.

This was a really enjoyable interview. Thanks!

Boston Dynamics is amazing...

Love this podcast can't wait till I'm home so I can get back into. Look forward to catching up when I get out hopefully won't be long in here

We all can’t be engineers. So I especially appreciate all of the people that work overtime without sleep and eating, that work w/o recognition only to see the the few take all of the credit

Actuators? Very cool. Had no idea there was an inverted pendulum that had the 3 point energy system. Stimulating topic for anyone into building and piecing together mechanical concepts. Gotta love that motto too. Thanks Marc and Lex!

Fantastic talk!

If you just listen, it's amazing how much the guest sounds like Michael Malice. His voice, accent, pace...

This is the first of your interviews I've fully watched! Please have James Dyson next.

it was a really inspiring interview. especially when they talked about what engineering was all about.

Marc, I'm a huge fan of your work, and especially liked your inspiration story about seeing the robot parts in the lab. As a kid, I had a book with pictures of the GE Walking Truck that always gave me hope for the future of robotics. Thank you for all of your work, and especially for this wonderful interview.

Such an interesting conversation once again 🙏🙏🙏

¡Muchas gracias, Lex! I receive every new podcast as a beautiful surprise. Please, keep going 🌹

This is a very educational interview for me, thank you.

Thanks for putting this together and sharing! I'm still crushed they didn't include more of you in 2049, but love watching these glimpses into your life. I appreciate your honesty and fearlessness.

Lex is my favorite podcaster and most importantly interviewer. I would put your ability to interview up against any other human on this earth. I also admire how humble you are, maybe one day you could do a solo podcast and talk about your though process on things, and how you manage to stay humble. I understand who you are on the podcast may not be the way you are 100% of the time off the podcast, but I want to be more like you. From your accomplishments, work ethic, humbleness, and ability to have empathy for people from all point of views. Would really appreciate that lex

My favorite podcast & host. Rock On Lex 😎✌🏼🇺🇸🍸

I used to program industrial robots for heavy industries. I'm retired now but it was such a fun job! I think I hit it at a good time though cuz AI will easily be able to develop programs in hours that took me weeks to get working. It's kind of a shame that will people will miss the joy of programming.

I learn a lot from listening to the prof. Robotic is one of the field I'll like to venture into. Well done lex, keep it up.

As someone into rc heavily this is the interview I've been waiting for! Thanks lex for another awesome guest

I love Big Dog, they would be so helpful on Ranches and Farms.

This is amazing and scary as heck at the same time.

Absolutely loved this!!!

Good to hear a positive outlook for AI for a change.

Very interesting, I love Marc's attitude and flair, and his shirt is perfect. :D

"I hurt my toe, it made it hard to run" seems kind of important 😂 love you

is boston dynamics working on exoskeletons and if not why not (asking as quadriplegic )

Awesome interview! Thanks lex

These robots today are unbelievable and incredibly amazing. I can't even begin to imagine where robotics will be in the future. This is the kind of interview and topics is why I love this podcast!!

The future oscillates drastically between tech-topia and complete and utter devastation.

This is GREAT, GREAT, GREAT! Two extraordinarily talented individuals who dare to dream and pursue their dreams diligently. I couldn't of something more motivational than this: congrats and THANKS for giving us this powerful source of inspiration.

Great Episode.👍

00:00 🤖 Marc Raibert shares insights on the progression from Big Dog to LS3, emphasizing its impressive load-carrying capabilities. 02:19 🧠 Raibert discusses his journey into robotics, inspired by childhood experiences and pivotal moments during graduate school. 04:05 🤔 The conversation delves into the intersection of brain and cognitive sciences with robotics, highlighting historical and recent efforts to bridge these fields. 06:49 ⚙ Raibert emphasizes the importance of combining aesthetics with functionality in robot design, highlighting the significance of lifelike movements. 09:23 ⚡ Raibert advocates for a more aggressive approach in robot manipulation, challenging traditional notions of safety and static grasping. 10:50 🔄 The discussion explores the concept that perfection may not be the ideal goal in robotics, suggesting that embracing imperfections could enhance human-robot interactions. 12:38 🚀 Raibert reflects on the early days of his career, sharing anecdotes about funding challenges and pivotal moments in developing the first hopping robot. 16:17 🛠 Raibert outlines technical challenges and breakthroughs in creating the first hopping robot, highlighting the transition to 3D movement and balancing mechanisms. 18:05 🦿 Raibert explains the three key elements involved in balancing a hopping robot: managing energy, foot placement, and maintaining an upright attitude. 19:59 🏃 Marc Raibert discusses the iterative process of improving robotic performance, including speed and obstacle navigation. 20:53 🤔 Early skepticism surrounded legged locomotion in robotics, but it has proven to be a valuable and impactful pursuit. 22:16 🤖 Raibert initially had doubts about humanoid robots but later recognized their significance in human interaction and connection. 23:26 🐕 Despite initial fears, people are often fascinated by robots like Spot, enjoying interaction and engagement. 24:20 🐶 Raibert recalls the transition from working on the IBO runner to developing Big Dog, marking a shift towards robotics. 28:43 🤖 The decision to focus solely on building robots marked a pivotal moment in Boston Dynamics' journey. 30:44 🐾 Big Dog's success was a significant milestone for Boston Dynamics, propelling the company forward and scaling up operations. 33:00 🏞 Testing robots in real-world environments, like hiking trails, presented both technical and logistical challenges. 35:42 ⚙ Transitioning from hydraulic to electric power systems required significant innovation in hardware design and control algorithms. 39:07 🤖 Achieving natural and fluid movement in robots involves dynamic approaches and forward-looking motion predictions. 39:47 🤸 Limited Horizon approach is used for tasks like balancing and navigating obstacles in robots, focusing on short-term predictions. 40:53 🤖 Sticking a landing for a robot doing a somersault requires coordinating momentum and rotation, which involves complex calculations but is achievable. 42:45 🧠 Building robots can help understand human movement better, even though humans themselves may not fully comprehend the physics behind their actions. 44:21 🦘 Initial robot designs were more complex, resembling animals like kangaroos or ostriches, but simplicity was prioritized for practicality and ease of development. 48:17 🏃‍♂ Cheetahs and gymnasts exhibit impressive athletic intelligence, highlighting the efficiency and grace of natural movement. 50:34 💡 Mechanical systems can exhibit motion without explicit computer control, utilizing passive dynamics for efficient movement. 53:20 🤝 Boston Dynamics AI Institute aims to combine physicality and cognitive abilities in robots to enable them to perform tasks autonomously through on-the-job training. 56:06 🔄 Stepping Stones to moonshots approach is adopted, focusing on tangible progress and feedback in robotics research. 57:55 🎯 Milestones include breaking down complex tasks like bicycle repair into observable components and developing skills for robots to perform them autonomously. 59:46 🤖 Marc Raibert discusses the potential for robots to navigate environments without explicit instructions, highlighting the importance of building navigation skills under uncertainty. 01:00:01 🧠 Raibert emphasizes the role of machine learning in robotics, acknowledging its growing significance and optimism while noting differences from language-based tasks. 01:02:43 🛠 Raibert outlines four essential components of a great team: technical fearlessness, diligence, intrepidness, and fun, explaining each aspect in detail. 01:04:32 📡 Raibert discusses the potential for robots to diagnose and fix physical problems, citing examples like repairing appliances, with the integration of AI and physical skills. 01:09:59 💪 Raibert emphasizes the importance of intrepidness in robotics, highlighting the necessity of perseverance and learning from failures, illustrated through Boston Dynamics' development process. 01:13:28 🎉 Raibert shares his perspective on the fun of engineering, highlighting the satisfaction, impact, collaboration, and financial reward associated with the field. 01:19:54 🤖 Human-robot interaction can benefit from combining language and movement for more efficient and intuitive teaching methods. 01:20:47 🤔 Creating performances with robots alongside famous dancers poses a daunting challenge due to differences in degrees of freedom, but there's potential for unique expressions. 01:22:51 💼 Building a team of great engineers requires fostering an environment where interesting engineering work is happening, attracting passionate individuals, even those without professional degrees. 01:24:41 🔍 Videos played a crucial role in putting Boston Dynamics on the map, demonstrating the possibilities of robotics and inspiring both imagination and fear. 01:25:51 🤝 Marc Raibert admires Elon Musk's achievements in technology, especially with Tesla and SpaceX, and believes Elon's efforts in humanoid robots, like Optimus, could be impactful. 01:28:39 🤖 Competition in robotics, especially in the humanoid and legged robot space, is viewed as healthy and beneficial, driving innovation and offering users more choices. 01:34:20 🧠 Marc Raibert shares a nuanced perspective on the potential risks of superhuman intelligence, emphasizing the need to balance opportunities and risks in technological advancement. 01:37:54 🌺 The Hawaiian shirt Marc Raibert often wears symbolizes his contrarian nature and willingness to challenge conventional opinions, serving as a reminder to stay true to oneself. 01:39:19 🚀 When considering career paths, imagine what you would do without constraints and pursue that vision diligently, as opportunities are often wider than perceived. 01:40:29 💡 Marc Raibert emphasizes the importance of exploring new challenges, even after years of experience, as seen with the creation of the AI Institute, showcasing growth beyond one's initial focus. 01:40:54 🎥 Demonstrating cognitive functions in robots presents a unique challenge compared to showcasing athletic skills, but embracing flaws and incremental improvements can be compelling and inspiring.

God Bless you lex, your doing God's work with this Podcast. Love Marc, his definatly one of the greats

keep the good interviews to relevant people. thks .

Thank you

Listening to this while I'm designing a robot chassis in Fusion 360 and sipping ☕ Peak comfy.

Привет из России. Было очень интересно. Роботы всегда вдохновляли меня. Когда всю работу начнут делать роботы, то люди наконец-то смогут понять, кто они такие на самом деле.

Missed you this time, Lex! Hope it was for good!

He reminds me of the mad scientist from the first seasons of South Park.

We have a SPOT robot from BD at our Michelin tire plant, in Lexington SC. It has a dedicated operator, and they use it for a variety of things. It goes to the local schools to show off for the kids occasionally as well, so it's not top secret information or anything. On a different note: being a good mechanical troubleshooter is a unique skill set, which seems to be at odds with other types of skill sets that people can have. Not everyone enjoys being covered in hot hydraulic oil, sweat filling your safety glasses, while extracting a broken fastener from a hole, with people waiting for you. We high-five and fist-bump after hard tasks, just like athletes do after a good play. I love that feeling. To any Engineers reading: Threaded fasteners are for fools. Remember that.

1:01:00 - "pixel values aren't words" OpeanAI: "hold my beer"

Damn yes! Some much needed short reprieve from the misery and death from the previous episodes. This is prime lex 🙂

I wanted to hear more about hands. Fine motor dexterity.

Great, fun interview.

House cleaning is such a big use case for the household market. I want a robot that can clean the bathroom toilet, sink, bath etc. or a series of small specialized ones... Roomba was step 1.

I love Hypeloot, it's one of the best project I have ever seen in a while

Make it a goal in life to find a job you like as much as Marc loves building!

Marc raibert is real world Dr light

The duality of man and robotics: Man must walk before it can run, robotics must run before it can walk.

Marc talking about "pop n' lockin'" dance moves was unexpected lol. 1:21:00

I used to take the the starters out and put rolled up cotton cloth inside with about 3/8 of an inch sticking out take a large dry cleaning bag and tape the hole up in the top.Then take 2 pieces of straw grass and form an X with the bottom of the bag using very little tape then fuel the aluminum starter can with lighter fluid before taping it at the point where the straw crisscrossed. Had a helper hold the bag at the top light the wick and supercharged the bag with a matchbook. In the winter they would lift out of sight and we watched them ride the air currents.We used CO 2 canisters for the match heads and depending on how tight it was packed you ended up with a rocket or a bomb .Good times in the sixties in the Willamette Valley Oregon.

this is amazing

great work bud

Love this guys videos where he plays for the live crowd! He just looks a bit different there...

I love this: "Why not?" 😍 1:38:35

I have NO science background. I can barely count. But this interview was just amazing. Thanks so much.

This podcast is very informative. From a different journalistic perspective, it gives me the mental tools to decipher between Atomic Intelligence and Central Intelligence. No matter the difference, the imminent output must be world trade. Rock on, planet.

I love this episode 😍

Great podcast!! TECH ALL THE WAY!