Skip to content
  • KOSPI 2746.63 +0.81 +0.03%
  • KOSDAQ 905.50 -4.55 -0.50%
  • KOSPI200 374.63 +1.41 +0.38%
  • USD/KRW 1348.5 -2.5 -0.19%
  • JPY100/KRW 890.92 -1.51 -0.17%
  • EUR/KRW 1452.74 -4.79 -0.33%
  • CNH/KRW 185.81 -0.22 -0.12%
View Market Snapshot
Robotics

Hyundai-owned Boston Dynamics’ Atlas, Stretch, Spot to take on Tesla Bot

The US robot maker will supply some 200 Stretch robots to logistics firms DHL and NFI next year

By Nov 23, 2022 (Gmt+09:00)

3 Min read

Dog-like robot Spot (left), humanoid robot Atlas and Hyundai's NEXO hydrogen fuel cell car
Dog-like robot Spot (left), humanoid robot Atlas and Hyundai's NEXO hydrogen fuel cell car

The idea of robots not just taking over menial tasks and tough jobs at logistics centers but also working as personal secretaries or in autonomous driving has been around for a long time.

That’s why even automakers such as US electric vehicle giant Tesla Inc. and South Korea’s top carmaker Hyundai Motor Co. are committed to delivering new robots, particularly purpose-built and programmed robots for specific tasks.

When Hyundai Motor took over Boston Dynamics Inc. in mid-2021, the US robotics startup was known for technologically advanced but unprofitable machines such as Spot, a maneuverable dog-like robot.

Originally spun off as a research center from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 1992, the US robot maker is now setting out as a full-scale manufacturer.

According to industry sources on Wednesday, Boston Dynamics will soon begin producing its box-handling robot Stretch in large quantities by introducing Hyundai Motor’s mass production capabilities to its facilities.

Boston Dynamics will deliver a fleet of Stretch robots to DHL
Boston Dynamics will deliver a fleet of Stretch robots to DHL

Boston Dynamics next year will supply some 200 Stretch robots to German courier DHL and US logistics provider NFI, which are actively adopting smart logistics systems in their warehouses across North America.

An unidentified customer has also ordered delivery of the box-moving robot in large quantities from 2024, the sources said.

Stretch can move 800 boxes, each weighing up to 50 pounds (23 kg), around warehouses in an hour, detecting and moving objects, while avoiding obstacles with the adoption of machine learning.

Currently, Stretch, priced at between $300,000 and $500,000 a unit, is mostly used for unloading, but Boston Dynamics is upgrading the robot to use for loading goods onto trucks, stacking products on pallets and freight order building.

Hyundai is pushing for commercialization of the warehouse robot as it expects the global robot market to grow rapidly to $177.2 billion by 2025 from an estimated $75.6 billion this year, industry officials said.

A hand of Optimus, also known as Tesla Bot,  a robotic humanoid under development by Tesla
A hand of Optimus, also known as Tesla Bot,  a robotic humanoid under development by Tesla

FOUR-LEGGED SPOT, HUMANOID ROBOT ATLAS WITH FINGERS

In addition to Stretch, Boston Dynamics is also in talks with its clients over the supply of the dog-like robot Spot.

Equipped with cutting-edge cognitive and control technology, the four-legged robot can walk upstairs freely and dodge obstacles with the aid of eight cameras attached to its body.

Spot is currently deployed at various industrial sites on a pilot basis, including US chipmaker GlobalFoundries Inc. for safety inspections.

Los Angeles police and the law enforcement authorities in Germany are also using the robot for security patrol services on a pilot basis.

Boston Dynamics’ humanoid robot Atlas, with 28 joints, has an even wider range of control and flexibility than Spot, boasting complicated moves such as handstands and somersaults.

Boston Dynamics' dog-like robot Spot (left) and humanoid robot Atlas
Boston Dynamics' dog-like robot Spot (left) and humanoid robot Atlas

Boston Dynamics is also upgrading Atlas for wider use at industrial sites. The company is working on enhancing Atlas’ functions for delicate arm movements by adding fingers to its hands instead of the current ball shape.

In December 2020, Boston Dynamics and NASA jointly developed Au-Spot, an AI robot trained to explore Mars.

OPTIMUS, THE TESLA BOT

Analysts said Boston Dynamics is enhancing functions of its three major robots – Atlas, Spot and Stretch – to eventually rival Tesla’s human-shaped robot Optimus.

Among carmakers, Tesla is leading a humanoid robot resurgence with its Tesla Bot project that began early last year.

At its Artificial Intelligence Day 2022 last month, Tesla surprised the industry by releasing a video of Optimus moving electric vehicle parts and delicately watering plants with a watering can. It also lifted a half-ton grand piano without any issues.

The Tesla Bot Optimus is a conceptual general-purpose robotic humanoid
The Tesla Bot Optimus is a conceptual general-purpose robotic humanoid

Since its acquisition of Boston Dynamics, Hyundai has been seeking ways to use robots in smart factories and last-mile product delivery.

Hyundai said it is shifting its business focus toward smart mobility from brick-and-mortar carmaking, choosing robotics as one of its key growth engines, alongside electric vehicles and hydrogen fuel cell cars.

Chairman Chung Euisun said last year that robotics will account for 20% of its future business, with automobiles making up half of its sales, followed by urban air mobility (UAM) at 30%.

He said Boston Dynamics has no plans to enter the defense industry as it won’t weaponize robots.

Write to Hyung-Kyu Kim and Il-Gue kim at khk@hankyung.com
In-Soo Nam edited this article.
More to Read
Comment 0
0/300