Boston Dynamics CEO Robert Playter steps down after 30 years at the company

Core Viewpoint - Boston Dynamics is undergoing a leadership change as CEO Robert Playter steps down, with CFO Amanda McMaster temporarily taking over while a replacement is sought [1][2]. Group 1: Leadership Change - Robert Playter announced his resignation as CEO in an internal memo, marking a significant transition for the company [1]. - Amanda McMaster, the current CFO, will serve as interim CEO during the search for a new leader [1]. Group 2: Company Background - Boston Dynamics was founded in 1992 as a spinoff from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology by Marc Raibert [3]. - The company has changed ownership multiple times, being acquired by Alphabet in 2013, sold to SoftBank in 2017, and then acquired by Hyundai in 2021 [3]. Group 3: Contributions of Robert Playter - Playter has been with Boston Dynamics for 30 years, holding various roles including vice president of engineering and COO before becoming CEO in 2020 [2]. - Under his leadership, the company transitioned from a research lab to a leader in mobile robotics, notably commercializing the quadruped robot Spot in 2020 [2][4].