Hyundai Mobis May Secure Additional Orders for 5 Core Components of 'Atlas'

Boston Dynamics in Further Talks Beyond Actuators
Chinese-Made Components to Be Excluded

There are expectations that Hyundai Mobis could secure additional orders for core components of Hyundai Motor Group’s next-generation humanoid robot, Atlas.

According to industry sources on March 5, Boston Dynamics is reportedly in discussions with Hyundai Mobis not only about mass production of the actuators (drive devices) installed in Atlas, but also about mass-producing five other key components.

These components include the gripper (robot hand), perception module, head module, controller, and battery pack—all of which are essential parts of Atlas.

On the second day of CES, January 7th (local time), the robot Atlas demonstrated parts transportation at Hyundai Motor's booth at the Las Vegas Convention Center (LVCC) in Nevada, USA. Photo by Yonhap News

Previously, Hyundai Mobis had already been confirmed as the supplier for the actuators. Hyundai Mobis secured the entire order for all 31 actuators used in Atlas and has established a mass production system.

Boston Dynamics has been concerned about potential leaks of robotics technology if component mass production were to be outsourced to non-affiliated companies outside Hyundai Motor Group. As a result, the company has established a basic policy of expanding cooperation with Hyundai Mobis.

If Hyundai Mobis is tasked with mass production of additional components following the actuators, Boston Dynamics will be responsible for research and development (R&D), while Hyundai Mobis will play the role of converting these developments into mass-produced products.

Within the industry, the gripper is cited as the component Hyundai Mobis is most likely to receive additional orders for.

The gripper accounts for about 20% of the hardware material cost for a humanoid robot. The gripper’s role is crucial for Atlas to perform various tasks in industrial environments.

The tactile sensors installed in Atlas are reportedly advanced enough to precisely detect external pressure, enabling the robot to gently grasp an egg without breaking it.

Due to concerns about technology leaks, Boston Dynamics has only shared design drafts with its affiliate, Hyundai Mobis. In order to preemptively address national security issues in the United States, the company has also decided to exclude Chinese-made components.

In addition, it is known that Hyundai Mobis is being strongly considered as the supplier for Atlas’s after-sales service (AS) parts.

The judgment is that utilizing Hyundai Mobis’s global parts logistics network would enhance the efficiency of after-sales service for Atlas.

A Hyundai Mobis representative stated, "Nothing has been finalized regarding this matter," adding, "Our policy remains to start with actuators and gradually expand to grippers, controllers, and other components."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.