Boston Dynamics Sand Flea

Not for sale

Discontinued · unavailableNot programmableMilitary10 m jumpsPiston actuatorDiscontinued

UnavailableShipping: N/A.

Remote control: Not possible. Teleoperated through a dedicated military operator control unit.

LEARN MORE (Boston Dynamics page, 2013 archive) ↗

Overview

A small wheeled scout that could leap 30 ft onto a roof or through a second-story window, using gyro stabilization to stay level in flight so the camera kept a usable view. Boston Dynamics developed it from a Sandia National Laboratories design for the US Army, and the robot and controller fit in a small backpack. It never became a commercial product and was later dropped from the company's lineup. Guinness World Records listed it as the highest jumping robot at 10 m in 2012. It remains the reference point for piston-powered jumping robots.

Type: Jumping robot · Jumping & hopping robots
Maker: Boston Dynamics (USA)
Released: 2012
Price: Not for sale
Status: Discontinued · unavailable
Best for: Professionals & labs
Programming: No programmability

Price and shipping

Military prototype developed with funding from the US Army Rapid Equipping Force. Earlier versions by Sandia National Laboratories (DARPA/JIEDDO funding). Never offered commercially.

Shipping: N/A. Never sold. A limited number of prototypes went to the US Army for evaluation.

Specifications

Category	Jumpers & hoppers · Jumping & hopping robots
Released	2012
Country	USA
Availability	Discontinued · unavailable
Jumping Robots	Ranked #2 by jump height
Programmability	No programmability
Built-in autonomy	None / scripted · Moves only when controlled, or plays preset motions
LLM support	None · No built-in LLM and no SDK to connect one.
Best for	Professionals & labs
Vision sensors	Camera
Actuators	Mixed
Audio	No audio
Compute type	Proprietary / undisclosed
Remote control	Not programmable
Size	33×46×15 cm (13×18×6 in), 5 kg (11 lb)
Locomotion	Four-wheel skid-steer RC-style chassis plus a CO2-powered piston that launches the robot up to 10 m (33 ft) high, invertible
Compute	Not published
Camera	Driving camera 320×240, still images 1280×960, 6 W visible and 6 W IR illuminators
Sensors	Laser ranging to guide the launch, gyro stabilization in flight
Runtime	2 h driving, about 25 hops per CO2 cartridge
Speed	3.4 mph (5.5 km/h) driving, jumps up to 10 m (33 ft)
SDK	None, operated from a handheld operator control unit with live video

Common questions

How much does Sand Flea cost?

Not for sale. Military prototype developed with funding from the US Army Rapid Equipping Force. Earlier versions by Sandia National Laboratories (DARPA/JIEDDO funding). Never offered commercially.