SEOUL, July 6 (AJP) - Hyundai Motor has showcased its next-generation humanoid robot Atlas, developed by its subsidiary Boston Dynamics, at this year's World Cup, reflecting the automaker's robotics ambitions.
The automaker said Atlas successfully took part in a halftime performance during a round-of-16 match at New York New Jersey Stadium on Sunday, delivering the match ball to the referee.
Just before the second half kicked off, Atlas delighted the crowd by imitating the signature goal celebrations of strikers Harry Kane of Bundesliga club Bayern Munich, Erling Haaland of English Premier League club Manchester City, Matheus Cunha of Manchester United, and Son Heung-min of Major League Soccer club Los Angeles FC, before precisely maneuvering the ball to the referee.
The robot made its first live public appearance at the quadrennial football event, following its debut at this year's Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas in January, where it showcased a range of movements before its physical design was unveiled.
Hyundai said the robot performed complex actions reliably even in the unpredictable stadium setting, thanks to technology that translates human movement into robot motion, learns from thousands of simulations, and controls all its joints as a single coordinated system.
It added that the robot's movements were developed with practical industrial applications in mind, adding that its World Cup appearance showed how robotics can move beyond technology demonstrations into sports, entertainment and field operations.
Atlas' appearance was part of Hyundai's global "Next Starts Now" campaign under its official FIFA sponsorship since 1999.
"We wanted to show soccer fans around the world that the future is already here by bringing Atlas to the World Cup stage," said Ji Seong-won, an executive of Hyundai Motor's marketing division.
Hyundai is also set to release a documentary film, "Training Ground" on Tuesday in partnership with the BBC, chronicling the preparations and technical challenges behind its robotics campaign.
The automaker said Atlas successfully took part in a halftime performance during a round-of-16 match at New York New Jersey Stadium on Sunday, delivering the match ball to the referee.
Just before the second half kicked off, Atlas delighted the crowd by imitating the signature goal celebrations of strikers Harry Kane of Bundesliga club Bayern Munich, Erling Haaland of English Premier League club Manchester City, Matheus Cunha of Manchester United, and Son Heung-min of Major League Soccer club Los Angeles FC, before precisely maneuvering the ball to the referee.
The robot made its first live public appearance at the quadrennial football event, following its debut at this year's Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas in January, where it showcased a range of movements before its physical design was unveiled.
Hyundai said the robot performed complex actions reliably even in the unpredictable stadium setting, thanks to technology that translates human movement into robot motion, learns from thousands of simulations, and controls all its joints as a single coordinated system.
It added that the robot's movements were developed with practical industrial applications in mind, adding that its World Cup appearance showed how robotics can move beyond technology demonstrations into sports, entertainment and field operations.
Atlas' appearance was part of Hyundai's global "Next Starts Now" campaign under its official FIFA sponsorship since 1999.
"We wanted to show soccer fans around the world that the future is already here by bringing Atlas to the World Cup stage," said Ji Seong-won, an executive of Hyundai Motor's marketing division.
Hyundai is also set to release a documentary film, "Training Ground" on Tuesday in partnership with the BBC, chronicling the preparations and technical challenges behind its robotics campaign.
Copyright ⓒ Aju Press All rights reserved.