The Boston-based startup was co-founded by CEO Marc Theermann, formerly chief strategy officer at Boston Dynamics, and CTO Farbod Farshidian, a robotics researcher who previously worked on learning-based control for systems including Atlas.
Dynamic Creatures is also launching as Boston Dynamics’ official entertainment and hospitality partner. The company says it is already working with a large theme park and retailer on guest-facing robotic characters.
Its robots are intended to sit somewhere between traditional animatronics and service robots. Rather than operating from a fixed location or repeating a predetermined routine, the machines are designed to move through venues, perceive what is happening around them and respond to individual guests in real time.
The company has also introduced SnowJay, an AI and robotics platform that combines perception, learning-based control, behavioral programming and character design. Dynamic Creatures says it can build characters on existing robotic platforms, including Boston Dynamics systems, or design custom robots for individual brands and environments.
Fortune reported that the company has already developed two internal prototypes, Danielle and Hugo. Danielle is built on top of Boston Dynamics’ Spot platform and uses an animated character exterior rather than the industrial appearance normally associated with the quadruped.
Dynamic Creatures has not disclosed its total funding. Its announced backers include Eniac Ventures, Kindred Ventures, Heliad, Sunshine Lake and BlueGrass Ventures, alongside angel investors including Boston Dynamics founder Marc Raibert. Public filings previously indicated at least $7.3 million of securities sold across two filings, although the company has not confirmed that figure as its current funding total.
