Hyundai Motor to unveil latest robotics tech at CES

By Kim Hyun-bin

Hyundai Motor is set to showcase its latest robotics vision under the theme of “Expanding Human Reach” at the world's largest electronics exhibition, the Consumer Electronics Show 2022 (CES 2022) opening in Las Vegas early next year.

"Hyundai has chosen robotics as the theme for the CES to promote its brand vision of Progress for Humanity,” an official from Hyundai Motor said. “With the development of AI technology, the boundaries between mobility and robotics will disappear in the future, and robotics will soon be connected to mobility.”

The company unveiled a teaser image for its participation in the CES 2022, Thursday, reflecting its drive to become an advanced mobility service provider.

Hyundai Motor will present its latest robotics technologies that are capable of bringing change to mobility and transportation.

The robotics vision presented by the country's leading carmaker will include the purpose and direction of the robotics business aimed at dramatically satisfying fundamental desires for mobility, beyond merely providing means of transportation, the company said.

During the CES that runs from Jan. 5 to 8, Hyundai Motor will run a booth introducing its expanded robot lineup, including Boston Dynamics' Spot and Atlas.

It will unveil its Plug & Drive (PnD) module under the “Mobility of Things,” a new concept in mobility that provides everything from inanimate objects to community spaces.

In addition, the company will also display the Mobile Eccentric Droid (MobED), its new mobility platform for indoor service robots unveiled earlier this month.

The company plans to introduce various ways that robotics can serve as a medium for connecting experiences in the metaverse and the real world, with specific examples shown at the event.

Details of Hyundai Motor's new mobility vision and major exhibits using robotics and metaverse will be unveiled at Hyundai Motor's CES Media Day event held at the Mandalay Bay Convention Center in Las Vegas on Jan. 4 (local time).

However, as the Omicron variant spreads, the scale of the CES 2022 is expected to be reduced drastically.

According to industry officials and sources, 2,100 companies from 160 countries will participate and unveil new technologies in various fields such as digital health, food tech, non-fungible tokens (NFTs), smart homes, and automobiles.

This also marks the first in-person event held in two years, but the number of participating companies has been halved due to the resurgence of COVID-19 infections. As companies reduce the number of business trips and size of their exhibitions, the total scale of the event is expected to decrease by a quarter. Many global IT powerhouses such as Amazon, Twitter, T-Mobile and Meta announced they will not take part in the event due to the pandemic. In the past, the average number of exhibitors was more than 4,000 and the number of visitors was more than 150,000.