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Boston Dynamics’ Spot upgrade combines three different capabilities: full-color imagery from its five stereo cameras, an onboard-computing payload called Spot CORE I/O, and a separate 5G communications payload. Color is intended to help people interpret what Spot sees; CORE I/O is for processing data on the robot. They are distinct upgrades, not parts of one camera-AI system.
What changed in Spot’s cameras?
Spot’s five stereo cameras provide full-color imagery while retaining depth information. Boston Dynamics says the change improves the operator’s view in the tablet controller and the company’s Orbit fleet-management software, making the surroundings easier for a person to interpret remotely.
The color update is not presented as a requirement for Spot’s own perception. Boston Dynamics said Spot does not need color images to see; the stated benefit is clearer imagery for operators. The announcement does not provide a comparative benchmark for camera performance.
What is Spot CORE I/O?
Spot CORE I/O is a dedicated computer payload integrated with the robot. Boston Dynamics describes it as a high-efficiency way to process data in the field, with computer-vision site inspections and continuous data collection among the intended workloads. The compute module it identifies is NVIDIA Jetson Xavier NX.
#1 Best Overall
- 【Native UVC Compliance】High-Speed USB 2.0 Interface, Native driver on Windows 11/10/7, Mac OS, Linux, Ubuntu and Android system. Direct integration with Raspberry Pi, Jetson Nano, Notebook, Desktop and industrial SBCs.
- 【Superior Performer】Up to 1080P*30 fps. Support YUY2 and MJPEG format. Designed to perform reliably in both Indoor and Outdoor environments.
- 【Wide Angle Lens】Fov(D) = 130 degrees and Fov(H) = 103 degree， with industry-standard M12 lens thread for optical customization.
- 【OEM-Ready Design】32x32mm PCB with 4x M2 holes. You also could buy the matching metal housings on our Amazon shop separately.
- 【Compliance And Safety】FCC/CE/UKCA certified, RoHS & REACH-SVHC compliant, tested by accredited labs.
That makes CORE I/O different from the color-camera update: the cameras improve the human operator’s view, while the payload supplies onboard computing for applications that analyze or collect data. The announcement does not publish Spot-specific processing benchmarks or comparative performance figures for CORE I/O.
Is a Jetson Xavier NX developer kit the same as CORE I/O?
No. CORE I/O is the robot-integrated payload; Jetson Xavier NX is the compute module named inside it. NVIDIA separately announced a Jetson Xavier NX developer kit on May 14, 2020, for embedded edge-AI development. That kit is development hardware, not the Spot CORE I/O payload, and the available product information does not establish that it is a plug-and-play upgrade for a Spot owner.
Rank #2
- Wide Compatibility: Compatible with all Raspberry Pi boards, including Raspberry Pi 5, Raspberry Pi 4B, Raspberry Pi 3B, and Raspberry Pi Zero W/2 W.
- HDR Image Sensor: This Arducam for Raspberry camera is based on a back-illuminated stacked CMOS 12-megapixel high-resolution image sensor (IMX708), which can output up to 3 megapixels in HDR mode on the Raspberry Pi. The maximum resolution is 4608(H) × 2592(V).
- Wide-angle M12 Lens: The V3 camera is equipped with a 120° (HFOV) wide-angle M12 lens, allowing for deeper depth of field and capturing more image detail while effectively reducing bokeh.
- Easy Use: This Arducam for Raspberry Pi 5 camera fully supports Libcamera and Picamera2, and uses CSI-2 serial data output with 2-wire serial communication for seamless integration.
- What you will get: This camera module comes with a 15cm 15-22pin Raspberry Pi camera cable and is equipped with an M12 Lens for manual focus applications.
If evaluating hardware for a Spot project, distinguish the processor from the complete payload and its robot integration. Buying a developer kit alone should not be treated as buying or upgrading CORE I/O.
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What did the 5G payload add?
The 5G payload is a separate communications option for cellular connectivity and teleoperation use cases; it is not the edge-computing payload. At the time of Boston Dynamics’ announcement, the company said AT&T private-5G customers could teleoperate Spot through the payload immediately, while public-5G teleoperation was described as forthcoming. Those were launch-era statements, not confirmation of current network coverage, service availability, or compatibility in a particular location.
Rank #3
- CAM-MIPIOV9281 is an Industrial Camera Module for whole series Raspberry Pi, Support the libcamera/rpicam tools.
- On-board OmniVision OV9281 Monochrome(Black&White) CMOS Sensor, 1M Pixel. With global shutter design eliminates motion distortion, making it especially suitable for high-speed imaging scenario.
- The built-in OV9281 driver on the Raspberry Pi Os supports RAW8 and RAW10 output formats, with resolutions of 1280x800, 1280x700, and 640x400. The maximum frame rate can reach up to 309 fps.
- Supports external trigger for rpi-cam/libcamera, Interfaces with optical isolation.
- Comes a wide angle Lens. Fov(D)=148 degrees, Fov(H)=118 degrees. Focal distance is adjustable.
How the upgrades fit Spot’s modular platform
Spot is a commercial robot platform designed to support different payloads and customer integrations. Boston Dynamics and its partners offer options such as additional cameras, sensors, laser scanners, and computers, often paired with specialized software. The company’s later Spot 2.0 material describes Spot CAM and Spot CORE, API-enabled payload properties and services, and developer access; its commercial launch announcement also describes customer payloads and SDK support.
This modularity means the three changes serve different jobs rather than forming a single required package:
Quick Recap
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- IO voltage 2.5V to 3.0V (internal LDO power supply to the core 1.8V)
- Power operation 60mW/15fps VGAYUV
- Automatic influence control functions include: automatic exposure control, automatic gain control, automatic white balance, automatic elimination of light streaks, automatic black level calibration, image quality control including color saturation, hue, gamma, sharpness ANTI_BLOOM
- RawRGB, RGB (GRB4:2:2, RGB565/555/444), YUV(4:2:2) and YCbCr(4:2:2) output formats
- Resolution 640x480 VGA
Rank #4
- Resolution 640x480 VGA
- IO voltage 2.5V to 3.0V (internal LDO power supply to the core 1.8V)
- Power operation 60mW/15fps VGAYUV
- Automatic influence control functions include: automatic exposure control, automatic gain control, automatic white balance, automatic elimination of light streaks, automatic black level calibration, image quality control including color saturation, hue, gamma, sharpness ANTI_BLOOM
- RawRGB, RGB (GRB4:2:2, RGB565/555/444), YUV(4:2:2) and YCbCr(4:2:2) output formats
| Upgrade | Primary function | How it integrates | Reader-relevant result |
|---|---|---|---|
| Full-color base cameras | Operator situational awareness, with depth information retained | Built into Spot’s five-camera stereo arrangement | Easier remote interpretation of the scene |
| Spot CORE I/O | Onboard processing and data collection | Dedicated computer payload using NVIDIA Jetson Xavier NX | Supports inspection and computing workloads on the robot |
| 5G payload | Cellular communications and teleoperation use cases | Separate communications payload | Adds a connectivity option; actual service depends on current availability and coverage |
What the announcement does not establish
- It does not provide current prices for the camera changes, CORE I/O, or the 5G payload.
- It does not give Spot-specific performance benchmarks for the upgrades.
- Its 5G teleoperation statements describe availability at announcement time, not present-day coverage or service terms.
- It does not show that a standalone Jetson Xavier NX developer kit is compatible as a direct Spot upgrade.
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