By Dylan Bettencourt
- Hyundai unveils Atlas humanoid robot at Las Vegas tech show, planning to use it in United States car factories from 2028.
- The company says robots will handle repetitive factory tasks as Hyundai invests heavily in robotics, artificial intelligence and automation.
Factory workers could soon see a new kind of colleague on the production line.
Hyundai has unveiled Atlas, a humanoid robot built to help assemble cars by taking on boring and repetitive jobs in factories.
The robot was revealed this week at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas. It was developed by Boston Dynamics, the robotics company owned by Hyundai.
Hyundai says Atlas will first be used in United States factories from 2028. The company plans full use across its factories by 2030.
Atlas is designed to work in tough factory conditions. It has rotating joints, hands that can feel objects and the strength to lift up to 50kg. It can also operate in temperatures from minus 20 degrees Celsius to 40 degrees Celsius.
At first, the robot will focus on simple tasks like sorting and moving vehicle parts. Hyundai says it will later take on more complex production line work.
Hyundai plans to produce up to 30,000 robots a year in the United States and roll them out across its global factories.
The company says the robot forms part of a wider push into artificial intelligence and robotics as global carmakers compete for new technology. Rivals like Tesla and Xpeng are also working on humanoid robots.
Hyundai bought Boston Dynamics in 2021. The company is already known for Spot, a dog-like robot, and Stretch, a robot used in warehouses.
Hyundai is investing R1.41-trillion in robotics, artificial intelligence and future technology at home. It has also set aside R487-billion for investments in the United States.
Pictured above: Atlas the robot.
Image source: @Keval_IM
