The Atlas humanoid robot is expected to automate up to 40% of the car assembly work at Hyundai's Metaplant America plant in Georgia this year.
The new project marks a major milestone in the partnership between Hyundai and Boston Dynamics, the US company that developed Atlas, Interesting Engineering reported on May 2. Last month, the South Korean automaker also committed to buying tens of thousands of robots from Boston Dynamics to solidify its position as a leader in mobile robotics.
At Metaplant America, Atlas will take on many tasks previously performed by workers, including lifting heavy components and installing car doors. The advanced bipedal robot, developed by Boston Dynamics since 2009, is 1.5 meters tall, weighs 89 kg, and can move at a speed of 9 km/h. Over the years, Atlas has achieved what experts have called "amazing" feats, such as walking like a human, running and jumping on rough terrain, and maintaining good balance.
In addition to Atlas, Metaplant America also uses traditional robots to assemble and transport vehicle parts. Spot, a four-legged dog-like robot from Boston Dynamics, will inspect the production line and vehicle bodies.
In addition to assembly, some other processes such as pressing and welding are also expected to be automated to increase efficiency at Metaplant America. Hyundai aims to produce 100,000 electric and hybrid vehicles per year at this facility in the first phase. The ultimate goal is to reach an annual production capacity of 500,000 units.
Hyundai plans to increase the use of robots at all manufacturing facilities around the world to optimize processes and improve efficiency. Automation is part of the South Korean automaker’s ambitious $21 billion investment plan in the US, including $6 billion for innovation, automation, and strategic partnerships. US President Donald Trump’s tariffs on imported cars have also forced Hyundai to step up these efforts.
In addition to Atlas, other humanoid robots around the world are also participating in the car manufacturing process. UBTech’s Walker S1 is working at the Audi-FAW new energy car factory in China. In addition to Audi, several major manufacturers such as BYD, Zeekr, Geely, and Foxconn also use the Walker S series, and more than 500 robots have been pre-ordered. At BYD’s factory in Shenzhen, the Walker S1 helps increase sorting efficiency by 120%.
(According to Interesting Engineering, Nikkei Asia)