Boston Dynamics showcases Atlas' strength, ability to shoulder industrial weight

Hyundai Motor Group's robotics subsidiary Boston Dynamics released video footage of its humanoid robot Atlas performing handstands and other advanced movements on Tuesday.

The video, uploaded to YouTube, marks the first demonstration of the production version of Atlas, which also has a research version that is used to test core technologies and functions.

The production version of Atlas is intended for use in industrial settings.

The newly released footage appeared aimed at demonstrating Atlas’s ability to handle heavy objects and perform tasks in unstable or unconventional positions, which are capabilities considered essential for factory work.

In the video, Atlas performed a handstand before supporting its entire body weight with both arms while keeping its torso nearly horizontal.

The robot also executed a highly difficult gymnastic maneuver in which it bent its body into an “L” shape before flipping itself upright into a standing position.

According to Hyundai Motor Group, the movements were powered by full-body control technology based on reinforcement learning, a technique that allows robots to learn motion and balance strategies through repeated simulations and trial-and-error processes.

The company plans to deploy the development model of Atlas at Hyundai Motor Group Metaplant America in Georgia in the future to conduct verification tests on the factory floor.

Hyundai Motor Group previously said it aims to introduce Atlas at the Georgia plant beginning in 2028 before expanding the robot’s role to parts assembly operations starting in 2030.

This article was originally written in Korean and translated by a bilingual reporter with the help of generative AI tools. It was then edited by a native English-speaking editor. All AI-assisted translations are reviewed and refined by our newsroom.

BY HYEON YE-SEUL [lee.junhyuk@joongang.co.kr]