Bipedal, humanoid machines are designed to perform production tasks on par with conventional industrial equipment.
Atlas was developed by Boston Dynamics, acquired by Hyundai in 2021. Unlike the demo versions designed for stunts, the current modification is created for practical use. The robot is equipped with human-sized manipulators with tactile sensors, has fully movable joints, and can lift loads of up to 50 kg.
In the first phase, Atlas will perform supportive operations: sorting, moving, and preparing parts before they are assembled on the vehicle. More complex work processes will be learned later. Hyundai expects humanoid machines to safely and stably perform part of the tasks on the assembly line by 2030.
The company emphasizes that it sees robots as a supplement to human labor, not as a replacement. According to Hyundai, automated systems should take over routine, heavy or potentially dangerous tasks, while employees focus on process control, training, and more demanding tasks. It is also noted that the introduction of robots creates new professions associated with their development, programming, and maintenance.
At the same time, the project is causing concern among unions and some employees, fearing the long-term impact of automation on jobs. Hyundai explains that it takes these risks into account and intends to preserve the key role of humans in production processes, even as the level of automation increases.
Source: Hyundai
