Hyundai plans to deploy Atlas robots in its factories from 2028

At CES in Las Vegas, Boston Dynamics presented a remotely piloted Atlas prototype, alongside a static, non-working production model. The latest Atlas is fully electric and has 56 degrees of freedom, fully rotating joints and tactile sensing in its hands. It can lift up to 110 pounds (50kg), replace its own batteries and operate in temperatures from -4 to 104 degrees Fahrenheit. Hyundai says most tasks can be taught to the robot in a day.

The company expects Atlas to take on repetitive motions, heavy loads and more complex operations by 2030. Hyundai describes its goal as “harmonious collaboration between humans and robots,” even as factory automation raises concerns about job losses. The automaker said its $21 billion investment in the US is expected to create 14,000 direct jobs by 2028 and more than 100,000 when indirect jobs are included.

Hyundai acquired Boston Dynamics in 2021 in a deal valuing the robotics company at $1.1 billion. The automaker says its manufacturing facilities, supply chain and experience with AI-based software will help scale production and control costs. Atlas’s price has not been revealed; the source estimates it could cost hundreds of thousands of dollars more than Boston Dynamics’ Spot robot, which sells for around $75,000.

Hyundai is also partnering with Google’s DeepMind AI research lab and sourcing AI chips and software from Nvidia. Moving Atlas from demonstrations to reliable factory work at a commercially viable cost remains a major challenge, with the companies yet to show that humanoid robots can justify their complexity and expense.