Spot Privacy Notice

Boston Dynamics takes the protection of your data and the security of our Spot robots (Spot) seriously. Sensing the environment, making decisions on complex data, and transacting data over network links are fundamental to the effective functioning of advanced robots. Spot was built from the ground up to keep such data secure. We believe that our commitment to your security and privacy should be a key reason for selecting Boston Dynamics and Spot as a partner in your robotics applications.

 

Spot is a new product that is in rapid development to improve its performance. In order for us to find, understand and fix issues, and improve performance, the robot collects certain performance data which may be transmitted to Boston Dynamics from time-to-time as either Service Logs or Performance Metrics. Spot is sometimes deployed with Orbit, our robot fleet management and data analysis software. Orbit is available as a cloud product that allows you to host your data (Orbit Cloud Data) in the cloud.

Performance Data

Service Logs

Spot Service Logs

We use Service Logs received from you to conduct technical analysis required for solving issues, and making product and service improvements. Service Logs contain raw sensor data and details on how Spot interprets this data for the period captured by the log data. Service Logs will contain images captured by Spot’s onboard cameras unless “Log Images” is disabled in the robot’s Admin Console at the time the data was collected. Images are required for diagnosing Spot’s perception-related issues, improving inspection quality, and developing new product advancements.

 

Because Service Logs contain details of Spot’s internal systems, they are encrypted and may only be accessed by Boston Dynamics. You control what Service Logs are shared with Boston Dynamics by either opting to send them automatically whenever your robot is connected to the Internet, or manually when requested by Boston Dynamics. Only send image data that you’re comfortable being viewed by Boston Dynamics engineers.

 

Orbit Service Logs

We use Orbit Service Logs for the purposes of troubleshooting and making product and service improvements. These logs may contain images captured by Spot’s onboard cameras that are processed in Orbit, including metadata about inspection and analysis quality. You control what Orbit Service Logs are sent to Boston Dynamics by opting to send them in Orbit Global Settings. Only send image data that you’re comfortable being viewed by Boston Dynamics engineers.

Performance Metrics

Performance Metrics are automatically created by Spot, and used by our product management and engineering teams to help measure the quality of your user experience, and better target our product improvement efforts.

 

Performance Metrics are transmitted to us whenever your robot, tablet, or Orbit application is connected to the Internet, and may contain the following data:

  • robot serial number;
  • usage information, such as how long the robot has been operated, how far it has walked, how many times it has fallen, or how often a particular API was used;
  • key robot events, such as powering on or detecting a fault;
  • safety-related events, such as robot collisions or falls;
  • tablet application usage;
  • Orbit application usage;
  • high-level information about maps you collect, such as how many waypoints, how they connect, or how well Spot understands where it is; and
  • details about communications loss events.

Sending Performance Metrics to Boston Dynamics is required for Spot Explorer robots, but can be disabled on Enterprise robots.

 

Images, audio, and detailed point cloud data are excluded from Performance Metrics. Your express action is required to transmit these data types.

Orbit Cloud Data

Orbit Cloud Data may include:

  • inspection data collected by robots such as images, videos, and associated metadata;  
  • inspection mission data, such as facility information and site maps;
  • robot operating history;
  • information about robots connected to Orbit, such as nicknames and IP addresses;
  • information related to users such as usernames, user roles and user permissions; and
  • data integrated into Orbit from third party systems, such as third party sensors or weather apps to support autonomous mission authoring.

We do not access your Orbit Cloud Data except when requested by you

Frequently Asked Questions

How do Spot and Orbit secure the data they work with?

Please see our Spot Security document and our Orbit Security document.

 

Where is Orbit data stored?

Your Orbit data will be stored in the region you request at purchase.

 

Who will have access to my data?

Access to your data will be limited to Boston Dynamics customer support staff and certain individuals working on improving the applicable product.

 

Under what circumstances is Spot data transmitted to Boston Dynamics?

Service Logs: Either:

  • if pre authorized by you, regularly and automatically, whenever the robot or Orbit is connected to the Internet; or
  • when explicitly sent by you as part of a service request.

Performance Metrics: Regularly and automatically, whenever the robot, the tablet or Orbit is connected to the Internet, unless you disable Performance Metrics on your robot or Orbit.

 

Does Boston Dynamics retain my data?

Service Logs: If no longer needed to address your service request or support performance improvements, service logs are deleted six months after the upload date to Boston Dynamics, whether uploaded automatically or manually.

 

Performance Metrics: This data is retained for as long as it is needed to support Spot performance improvements.

 

Orbit Cloud Data: This data is retained for as long as the applicable Orbit customer account remains active, and deleted within 10 days after deactivation of the account.

 

Does Spot require Internet access?

No. To facilitate transmission of diagnostic data we do require you to periodically connect your tablet to the robot, which automatically transfers the data from the robot, and then connect that tablet to the Internet.

 

Can I inspect the data Spot sends?

Service Logs: No. This data contains details of Spot’s internal systems and remains encrypted until examined by technicians at Boston Dynamics.

 

Performance Metrics: Yes. Performance Metrics may be accessed through Spot’s API by the robot’s owner. Please see our documentation at dev.bostondynamics.com for information on how to access Performance Metrics. Performance Metrics can also be viewed in the tablet app.

 

Last Updated on 9/11/2024