Marvin Elementary Students Meet Spot, Mizzou’s Four-Legged Robotics Star

Spot, the four-legged robotic dog from Mizzou, strutted into Marvin Elementary’s gym on Nov. 20, 2025 and instantly became the star student. 

Students gasped, laughed and leaned in as Spot pranced across the floor, showed off his dance moves and responded to each command from his handler, Mizzou senior Van Grabner. 

Grabner, who will graduate in December 2025 with a computer science degree from the University of MIssouri-Columbia’s College of Engineering, brought both his expertise and his energy to the assembly.

During this hands-on STEM sessions, Marvin students got an up-close look at the technology behind Spot.They learned how his 360-degree cameras act like “eyes,” how a battery sits tucked under his belly, and how Grabner guides his movement with a handheld controller. 

Spot climbed over obstacles with ease and avoided anything too tall, much like a careful hiker who scans the trail to stay safe. The demo helped students see how robots like Spot are used in real-world situations, including exploring areas damaged by natural disasters or places that might be too risky for humans.

Grabner has spent a lot of time with Spot during his time in Mizzou’s Autonomous Systems Lab as he learned how to program Spot and other humanoid robots. He also has a special connection to Ritenour. His mom, Shalawn Grabner, teaches kindergarten at Marvin and his dad, Ted Grabner, is a PE teacher at Wyland Elementary.

The Marvin community loved welcoming Van Grabner and meeting Spot for the first time. 

“Our students were locked in from the moment Spot walked across the gym floor,” said Marvin Elementary Principal Dr. Melissa Crowley. “You could see their curiosity spark with every move he made, and it was exciting to watch them connect what they were seeing to the world of STEM as Van explained how Spot worked.”