Choreography moves reference

This section describes each Choreographer move at a high level, including:

• Parameters used by the move
• Animated GIFs demonstrating the move with default parameters (for most moves)

More information about choreography moves can be found by looking at the choreography protos in the Spot proto reference.

Body moves

rotate_body

Rotates the body to a desired orientation. Nominally takes one beat (4 slices) but can be extended to go slower.

Parameter	Effect
rotation	The desired body orientation.
return_to_start_pose	If true, returns to the previous body pose by the end of this move. If false, remains in the specified position.

rotate_body_sharp

Identical to the rotate_body move, but moves to the desired position quickly and returns (unless configured not to return) more slowly.

No Parameters

body_hold

Moves the body to a specified position/orientation and holds it steady for the specified duration then optionally returns to a neutral pose.

Parameter	Effect
rotation/translation	The desired pose.
entry_slices	How long to spend transitioning to the desired pose.
exit_slices	How quickly to transition back to the original pose. If set to 0, remains at the specified pose.

body_const

Holds the body at the pose from the immediately preceding body-track move. Applies to both orientation and translation. Can be extended to any desired duration.

No Parameters

sway

Sway back and forth to the beat. A full back/forth cycle takes 2 beats.

Parameter	Effect
vertical/horizontal/roll	How much motion in the respective directions.
pivot	Which portion of the body remains stationary.
style	Modifies the velocity profile of the motion.
pronounced	How exaggerated the style is. Smaller values will be closer to the SWAY_STYLE_STANDARD.
hold_zero_axes	If set to true, maintains the previous pose in whichever axes 0 motion is specified. If false, those axes return to nominal.

random_rotate

Rotate the body in a random, chaotic manner. Rotation in each axis is generated independently. Can be extended to any desired duration.

Parameter	Effect
amplitude	How far from the nominal pose to rotate in each axis.
speed	How quickly to rotate in each axis.
speed_variation	How much to vary the speed. Controls the ratio between the slowest and fastest moves. When 0, no variation (all moves are the same speed).
num_speed_tiers	Can create multiple tiers of speed.
tier_variation	Difference between the speed of the slowest tier compared to the fastest_tier.

twerk

Lowers the robutt down and back up once. Lasts for one beat (4 slices).

Parameter	Effect
height	How much to lower the robutt.

butt_circle

Move the robutt, head, or both head and robutt in a circle. Extendable to the desired duration. Rotates about the previous pose.

Parameter	Effect
radius	Size of the rotation circle.
beats_per_circle	The duration of a circle in beats (4 slices each). Mutually exclusive with number_of_circles. Will be ignored unless number_of_circles = 0.
number_of_circles	The number of circles to perform. Mutually exclusive with beats_per_circle. If number_of_circles = 0, beats_per_circle will be used instead.
pivot	What part of the robot to pivot around. Pivoting around the front means the robutt moves in circles.
clockwise	Which direction to rotate.
starting_angle	Where in the circle to start rotation. Since it spirals outwards, it may not be obvious exactly where it starts.

fidget_stand

A procedurally-generated idle animation. It looks around, breathes, shifts its weight, and stamps. Can use one of the preset configurations or customize the parameters.

Parameter	Effect
preset	Pre-designed parameter combinations that attempt to convey a specific emotion. NOTE: All other sliders are only active if this is set to "Custom".
min_gaze_pitch	How far down the robot looks. (Radians)
max_gaze_pitch	How far up the robot looks. (Radians)
gaze_mean_period	How frequently the robot looks somewhere else. (Seconds)
gaze_center_cfp	Where the gaze array originates in the center-of-footprint frame. (Meters)
shift_mean_period	How frequently the robot shifts its weight. (Seconds)
shift_max_transition_time	Maximum amount of time the robot spends shifting its weight. (Seconds)
breath_min_z	Minimum amplitude of the "breathing" (meters)
breath_max_z	Maximum amplitude of the "breathing" (meters)
leg_gesture_mean_period	How frequently the robot does a leg gesture. (Seconds)
gaze_slew_rate	How quickly the robot shifts its gaze. (Meters/Second)
gaze_position_generation_gain	How much Brownian motion is applied to the gaze point.
gaze_roll_generation_gain	How much Brownian motion is applied to the gaze roll.

Step moves

step

Take a single step with one or two feet. Nominally requires one beat (4 slices) but can be extended to step slower. If stepping with two feet, especially both front or both hind feet, longer steps will be unreliable. Lifts off one slice after the move begins and touches down one slice before it ends.

Parameter	Effect
foot/second_foot	Which feet to step with. If only a single foot is desired, second_foot should be set to LEG_NO_LEG.
offset	Where to step relative to a nominal stance for the first foot.
touch	If true, taps the foot near the ground midway through swing.
touch_offset	If touch is true, where the touch should occur relative to the nominal stance location.
mirror_x, mirror_y	Determines whether the second_foot (if there is one) has the same offset and touch_offset as the first foot (false) or the opposite offset (true). Specified independently for the x and y axis.
swing_waypoint	Defines a waypoint that the swing leg must go through between liftoff and touchdown. If left at {0,0,0}, no waypoint will be added and the system will take a normal swing.
waypoint_dwell	What fraction of the swing should be spent near the waypoint.
swing_height	How high to lift the foot/feet. Does nothing if a swing_waypoint is specified.
liftoff_velocity	How quickly to raise the foot/feet. Does nothing if a swing_waypoint is specified.
touchdown_velocity	How quickly to lower the foot/feet. Does nothing if a swing_waypoint is specified.

goto

Trot to a specified position in the dance frame. Unless explicitly set, the dance frame is defined by where the dance begins. Takes 1 step per beat. Extend the duration to successfully move farther.

Parameter	Effect
relative	Relative to starting pose if true. Target specified in dance frame if false.
absolute_position	Position the robot moves to in the dance frame. Ignored if absolute = false.
absolute_yaw	Yaw orientation the robot moves to in the dance frame. Ignored if absolute = false.
relative_position	Position the robot moves to relative to where it started this move. Ignored if absolute = true.
relative_yaw	Yaw orientation the robot moves to relative to where it started this move. Ignored if absolute = true.
step_position_stiffness	How precisely the robot steps in the nominal locations.
duty_cycle	What fraction of the time a foot is on the ground. 0.5 is a standard trot.
link_to_next	Should the robot smoothly transition from this move to a subsequent goto move.

trot

Runs the trot gait. Can be extended to run for an arbitrary duration.

Parameter	Effect
velocity/yaw_rate	The steering command.
stand_time	Duration before the end of the nominal move to start going to a stand. If set too short, the robot may not finish transitioning and could fall.

pace

Runs the pace gait. Can be extended to run for any desired duration.

Parameter	Effect
velocity/yaw_rate	The steering command.
stand_time	Duration before the end of the nominal move to start going to a stand. If set too short, it may not finish transitioning and could fall.

turn_2step

Take two steps to turn in place. Requires 2 beats (8 slices).

Parameter	Effect
motion_is_absolute	Is motion in the dance frame (true) or relative to the current position (false).
motion	How far to move. (Meters)
absolute_motion	Where to move to in the dance frame. (Meters)
yaw_is_absolute	Is yaw in the dance frame (true) or relative to the current position (false).
yaw	How far to rotate. (Radians)
absolute_yaw	Where to rotate to in the dance frame. (Radians)
swing_height	How to pick up the feet. Zero indicates to use a default swing.
swing_velocity	How quickly to lift off and touch down the feet. Zero indicates to use a default swing.

pace_2step

Take two steps to translate using a pace gait (legs on the same side of the robot move together). Requires 2 beats (8 slices). Caution: Large lateral steps require a high-traction floor.

Parameter	Effect
motion_is_absolute	Is motion in the dance frame (true) or relative to the current position (false).
motion	How far to move. (Meters)
absolute_motion	Where to move to in the dance frame. (Meters)
yaw_is_absolute	Is yaw in the dance frame (true) or relative to the current position (false).
yaw	How far to rotate. (Radians)
absolute_yaw	Where to rotate to in the dance frame. (Radians)
swing_height	How to pick up the feet. Zero indicates to use a default swing.
swing_velocity	How quickly to lift off and touch down the feet. Zero indicates to use a default swing.

crawl

Locomotes, taking one step every beat. Can be extended to run for any desired duration.

Parameter	Effect
velocity	Desired velocity of the robot.
swing_slices	Duration of a swing in slices. An entire gait cycle takes 4 beats (16 slices). At the maximum value of 8 slices two of the robot's feet will always be on the ground, as in the Amble gait. With a value of 4, the robot will always have one foot on the ground, as in the Crawl gait.
stance_width, stance_length	The dimensions and shape of the rectangle the stance feet make.

custom_gait

See CustomGait

Dynamic moves

running_man

Spot’s version of the “running man” dance move. Can be extended to run for any desired duration.

Parameter	Effect
velocity	By default, the robot dances in place but can move around in the world.
pre_move_cycles	How many slices to dance in place before moving at the specified velocity.
swing_height	How high to pick up the feet.
spread	How far to slide the feet backward from where they’re initially placed.
reverse	If true, will step backwards and slide forward: The reverse of the normal motion.
speed_multiplier	Run the move at something other than the song's overall beats-per-minute.
duty_cycle	What fraction of the time legs are in stance.
com_height	Desired height of the center-of-mass.

bourree

Cross-legged tippy-taps, like the ballet move.

Parameter	Effect
velocity, yaw_rate	Steering command.
stance_length	Distance between front and hind legs.

hop

Runs the hop gait. Can be extended to run for any desired duration.

Parameter	Effect
velocity/yaw_rate	The steering command.
stand_time	The duration before the end of the nominal move to start going to a stand. If set too short, the robot may not finish transitioning and could fall.

jog

Runs the jog gait. Can be extended to run for any desired duration.

Parameter	Effect
velocity/yaw_rate	The steering command.
stand_time	The duration before the end of the nominal move to start going to a stand. If set too short, the robot may not finish transitioning and could fall.

skip

Runs the skip gait. Is extendable to run for an arbitrary duration.

Parameter	Effect
velocity/yaw_rate	The steering command.
stand_time	The duration before the end of the nominal move to start going to a stand. If set too short, the robot may not finish transitioning and could fall.

front_up

Lifts the front feet then returns to a stand. Can be extended to adjust the duration of the hind-feet-only stance. Longer durations are unreliable. Lifts off 2 slices from the start of the move and touches down one slice from the end of the move.

Parameter	Effect
mirror	If true, raises the hind legs instead of the front legs.

jump

Jumps in place. Nominally lasts one beat but may take more slices at faster tempos.

Parameter	Effect
translation_is_absolute	Is motion in the dance frame (true) or relative to the current position (false).
translation	How far to move. (Meters)
absolute_translation	Where to move to in the dance frame. (Meters)
yaw_is_absolute	Is yaw in the dance frame (true) or relative to the current position (false).
yaw	How far to rotate. (Radians)
absolute_yaw	Where to rotate to in the dance frame. (Radians)
flight_slices	How long the jump should last with all feet off the ground measured in slices. Depending on tempo, higher values will be unreliable.
stance_width/stance_length	The footprint the robot should land its jump in.
swing_height	How how to pick up the feet.
split_fraction	Splits the liftoff and touchdown into two pairs of two legs. In fraction of of swing with two legs in flight, so 0 means all legs fully synchronized.
lead_leg_pair	If split_fraction is not 0, indicates which legs lift off first. Default AUTO mode will select a pair based on the translation vector.

Transition moves

sit

Sit the robot down or remain seated. Requires at least 3 seconds.

No Parameters

stand_up

Stand the robot up from a seated position. Requires at least 2 seconds.

No Parameters

sit_to_sprawl

Starting from a seated position, rolls the robot onto its side/back. Intended to prep the robot for a more dramatic self-right.

Parameter	Effect
side	Which side to roll to.

random_stretch

Extends any extendable moves immediately prior to it by a random number of slices between 0 and the duration of the stretch move. The robot then immediately jumps to the end of this move. Note: This changes the duration of a choreography sequence.

No Parameters

stand_to_kneel

Transitions from standing to kneeling on the hind legs. Requires 2 seconds.

No Parameters

kneel_to_stand

Transitions from kneeling on the hind legs to a stand. Requires 2.4 seconds.

No Parameters

kneel_to_stand_fast

Transitions from kneeling on the hind legs to a stand. Faster and smoother than kneel_To_stand, but might be less reliable in some combinations.

No Parameters

self_right

Activate the self-right behavior. Primarily useful as the first move in a dance if you wish to start from a non-standard posture. Nominally requires 5 seconds, but can be extended to ensure that it completes.

No Parameters

leg_pose

Directly pose Spot's legs by specifying joint angles. Spot will make no attempt to balance.

Parameter	Effect
angles	The specified joint angles.

Kneel moves

kneel_leg_move

While kneeling, move the front legs to a specified joint configuration. Nominally takes one beat (4 slices) but can be extended to go slower.

Parameter	Effect
hip_x, hip_y, knee	Joint angles for the front-left leg.
mirror	If true, move the legs in a mirrored manner. If false, front-right leg moves to the same joint configuration as the front-left. If true, the front-right hip_x angle has the opposite sign: The front-left leg and the other joint angles will be the same.
easing	Controls the velocity profile of the motion.

kneel_leg_move2

Similar to kneel_leg_move, but allows you to independently set the front-left and front-right leg joint angles. Additionally allows linking for smoother transitions between multiple consecutive moves.

Parameter	Effect
left_hip_x, left_hip_y, left_knee	Joint angles for the front-left leg.
right_hip_x, right_hip_y, right_knee	Joint angles for the front-left leg.
easing	Controls the velocity profile of the motion. Does nothing for linked moves.
link_to_next	Links this move to a second kneel_leg_move2 that immediately follows it if there is one. Multiple moves can be linked in this way. Linked moves form a combined trajectory where the joints travel through each waypoint but not necessarily come to a zero-velocity stop at the end of each move.

kneel_clap

While kneeling, clap the front feet together. Takes one beat (4 slices).

Parameter	Effect
direction	The movement direction of the clap in the flat_body frame (z is up, x is direction the robot faces).
location	The location of the clap in body frame.
speed	The speed of the clap.
clap_distance	How far apart the feet will be prior to clapping.

kneel_circles

While kneeling, move the front feet in circles in the body-XZ (sagittal) plane. The two feet will be 180 degrees out of phase. Can be extended to run for any duration.

Parameter	Effect
location	The location of the center of the circles in body frame.
beats_per_circle	The duration of a full circle in beats. Ignored unless number_of_circles = 0.
number_of_circles	Number of circles to perform. If 0, then use beats_per_circle.
offset	Distance between the circle plane and the body centerline.
radius	Size of the circles that the feet move in.
reverse	Reverses the circle direction. Nominal direction is away from the body on top.

Arm moves

nod

Moves the WR0 joint up and back down for one beat (4 slices). If done from a stow pose, will raise the hand.

No Parameters

stow

Returns the arm to a stowed configuration. Nominally takes one beat (4 slices) but can be extended to go slower.

No Parameters

unstow

Moves the arm to a deployed configuration. Nominally takes one beat (4 slices) but can be extended to go slower.

No Parameters

shoulder_left

Rotate the SH0 joint to move the gripper to the left. Nominally takes one beat (4 slices) but can be extended to go slower.

No Parameters

shoulder_right

Rotate the SH0 joint to move the gripper to the right. Nominally takes one beat (4 slices) but can be extended to go slower.

No Parameters

arm_move

Moves the arm to the specified joint angles. Nominally takes one beat (4 slices) but can be adjusted to go faster or slower.

Parameter	Effect
angles	The specified joint angles, including the gripper angle.
easing	Controls the velocity profile of the motion.

arm_move_no_gripper

Identical to arm_move, but excluding the gripper track.

arm_move_relative

Moves the arm incrementally, relative to the previous pose. Nominally takes one beat (4 slices) but can be adjusted to go faster or slower.

Parameter	Effect
angles	The specified joint angles, including the gripper angle.
easing	Controls the velocity profile of the motion.

workspace_arm_move

Moves the gripper to a location specified in the world (not joint angles).

Parameter	Effect
frame	Frame in which the motion is specified.
absolute	If true goes to a position/orientation relative to the origin of the given frame. If false, direction is defined by the specified frame, but motion is relative to previous pose.
rotation, translation	The pose to move to.
easing	Controls the velocity profile of the motion.

figure8_move

Moves the gripper in a figure-8 pattern centered on the previous pose. Repeats for the specified duration.

Parameter	Effect
height, width	The size and shape of the figure-8 pattern.
beats_per_cycle	How long to complete one cycle of the figure-8 pattern.

gripper

Moves the gripper to the specified angle. Duration can be set to any number of slices but speed will be determined by parameter. Once the gripper reaches the specified angle it will stop. If the selected duration is too short to complete the move given the configured speed, the robot remains at whatever angle it reaches when move ends.

Parameter	Effect
angle	The desired gripper angle.
speed	The desired velocity of the gripper in rad/s.

frame_snapshot

This move sets the frame to be used by future moves that are in an absolute frame. Some moves will always be in the dance frame (frame_id = 0) and some allow you to explicitly select a frame_id. This move can set frames relative to either a fiducial or to Spot's footprint.

Parameter	Effect
frame_id	Which frame to set. The dance frame 0 is used by moves that do absolute motion but don't explicitly select a frame.
fiducial_number	Which fiducial to set the frame relative to. If set to -1 or if the fiducial has not been seen recently, the fiducial number is set according Spot's footprint.
include_each_leg	Should each leg be included when determining the footprint.
compensated	If a foot is not included, should we offset the footprint as if that foot were in a nominal stance? Otherwise, we'll take the center of the included feet.

chicken_head

Holds the arm stationary in the world while the body is moving. Can also be configured to move in a fixed oscillation in the world.

Parameter	Effect
bob_magnitude	A vector describing the amplitude and direction of a periodic motion of the gripper in the world.
beats_per_cycle	How long it takes to complete 1 cycle of the motion described by bob_magnitude
follow	If set to true, the gripper position will adjust if the robot steps to a new location.

Face Lights moves

All colors are specified as RGB on a 0-255 scale.

set_color

Sets the color of Spot's face (status) lights. Left and right lights can be independently set. Lights can be set to fade in and out.

Parameter	Effect
left_color	Color of the left face lights. Color of all face lights if right_same_as_left specified.
right_same_as_left	If true, all face lights are left_color. If false, left and right are independently specified.
right_color	Color of the right face lights. Does nothing if right_same_as_left specified.
fade_in_slices	How long to spend brightening at the beginning, measured in slices (1/4 beats).
fade_out_slices	How long to spend darkening at the end, measured in slices (1/4 beats).

fade_color

Sets the face (status) lights to show one color at the top fading towards another color at the bottom.

Parameter	Effect
top_color	The color of the topmost lights.
bottom_color	The color of the bottommost lights.
fade_in_slices	How long to brighten, measured in slices (1/4 beats).
fade_out_slices	How long to dim at the end, measured in slices (1/4 beats).

independent_color

Independently specifies the color of all 8 face (status) lights.

Parameter	Effect
top_left	Color of the top left light.
upper_mid_left	Color of the second from top left light.
lower_mid_left	Color of the second from bottom left light.
bottom_left	Color of the bottom left light.
top_right	Color of the top right light.
upper_mid_right	Color of the second from top right light.
lower_mid_right	Color of the second from bottom right light.
bottom_right	Color of the bottom right light.
fade_in_slices	How long to brighten, measured in slices (1/4 beats).
fade_out_slices	How long to dim at the end, measured in slices (1/4 beats).

ripple_color

Sets the face (status) lights in a variety of moving patterns.

Parameter	Effect
main	Color to make the face lights.
secondary	Second color to make the face lights, used only by some patterns.
pattern	Select from a variety of light motion patterns.
light_side	Which side lights to use for the pattern.
increment_slices	How quickly to move the pattern in slices (1/4 beats) between updates to the pattern.

Audio Visual Lights moves

All colors are specified as RGB on a 0-255 scale.

set_audio_visual_color

Sets the color of the audio visual system's lights. Lights can be independently set. Lights can be set to fade in and out.

Parameter	Effect
front_center_color	Color of the front center audio visual light. Color of all audio visual lights if all_same_as_center specified.
all_same_as_center	If true, all lights are front_center_color. If false, lights are independently specified.
front_left_color	Color of the front left audio visual light. Does nothing if all_same_as_center specified.
front_right_color	Color of the front right audio visual light. Does nothing if all_same_as_center specified.
back_left_color	Color of the back left audio visual light. Does nothing if all_same_as_center specified.
back_right_color	Color of the back right audio visual light. Does nothing if all_same_as_center specified.
fade_in_slices	How long to brighten, measured in slices (1/4 beats).
fade_out_slices	How long to dim at the end, measured in slices (1/4 beats).

set_all_color

Sets the color of the audio visual system's lights and the face (status) lights. Lights can be independently set. Lights can be set to fade in and out.

Parameter	Effect
front_center_color	Color of the front center audio visual light. Color of all audio visual lights if all_same_as_center specified.
all_same_as_center	If true, all lights are front_center_color. If false, lights are independently specified.
status_left_color	Color of the left face lights. Does nothing if all_same_as_center specified.
status_right_color	Color of the right face lights. Does nothing if all_same_as_center specified.
front_left_color	Color of the front left audio visual light. Does nothing if all_same_as_center specified.
front_right_color	Color of the front right audio visual light. Does nothing if all_same_as_center specified.
back_left_color	Color of the back left audio visual light. Does nothing if all_same_as_center specified.
back_right_color	Color of the back right audio visual light. Does nothing if all_same_as_center specified.
fade_in_slices	How long to brighten, measured in slices (1/4 beats).
fade_out_slices	How long to dim at the end, measured in slices (1/4 beats).

Audio Visual Buzzer moves

buzzer_note

Play a note from the Audio Visual System Buzzer for the duration of the move.

Parameter	Effect
note	The musical note that will be played.
sharp	If true, raises the note by a half step, or semitone. If both sharp and flat are true, there is no effect.
flat	If true, lowers the note by a half step, or semitone. If both sharp and flat are true, there is no effect.
octave	The octave of the note.