Boston Dynamics and Hyundai are sending a clear message. Humanoid robots are moving beyond research labs and flashy demos and into real workplaces.
The companies recently revealed a new, production-ready version of the Atlas humanoid robot, built to take on real jobs inside factories and supply chains. The idea is not to replace workers but to handle the physically demanding, repetitive tasks that are increasingly hard to fill.
Atlas is a six-foot-tall, all-electric robot that walked and interacted on stage during Hyundai Motor Group’s CES presentation. Hyundai says it plans to begin using the robot in its own manufacturing operations as early as 2028.
The robot is designed to move parts, support assembly lines, and operate in environments that can be tough on people. Hyundai says Atlas can lift about 110 pounds and work in both hot and cold conditions, which makes it a fit for factory floors rather than controlled lab settings.
The companies are also thinking big about scale. Hyundai and Boston Dynamics say they are building production capacity that could support tens of thousands of Atlas robots each year by 2028, signaling a long-term push rather than a limited pilot.
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Hyundai says it plans to build a robotics production facility in the United States that could produce up to 30,000 Atlas humanoid robots a year by 2028, with initial deployment targeted at its Savannah, Georgia, manufacturing site.
Reaching that scale depends on Hyundai’s broader supply chain. Hyundai Mobis will supply key components that help Atlas move and stay balanced, while Hyundai’s logistics operations will support manufacturing, distribution, and ongoing service for the robots.
“Actuators play a critical role in enabling humanoid robots to perform physical movements,” said Zack Jackowski, General Manager of the Atlas program at Boston Dynamics, “This collaboration allows us to access the well-established cost structures and scale potential of the automotive industry.”
Artificial intelligence is also a big part of the picture. Boston Dynamics is working with Google DeepMind to help Atlas better understand its surroundings and adjust to changing conditions, which is critical for working safely around people and equipment.
Hyundai has positioned Atlas as a tool to support workers, especially as manufacturers deal with labor shortages and physically demanding roles. Still, as humanoid robots move closer to everyday factory use, questions about how they will reshape work are already surfacing.
