Hyundai’s Progress For Humanity Starts With The Quadruped Robot, Spot

Making an appearance to showcase its ingenuity, Hyundai Motor Poland presented the Boston Dynamics’ quadruped robot called Spot, to the masses.

It took place at four new Hyundai Electrified Showrooms across Poland, in Gdańsk, Poznań, Wrocław, and Warszawa, which started on January 20 and ended on February 8.

Notably, on February 7, Spot was also presented to a broader Polish audience during a live broadcast of Onet Rano, Poland’s most popular online morning show. 

During the interview, matters about Hyundai’s vision of Progress for Humanity, electromobility and robotics, were also brought to light. 

Broadcasted from the Hyundai Dealer Electrified Showroom in Warsaw, the interview was part of Hyundai Motor Poland x Onet Rano yearlong cooperation, aimed to promote electromobility. 

At which for one year, journalists of Onet Rano will be using the fully-electric Ioniq 5 as a mobile studio, inviting guests to discuss political and social issues.

Then, on the last day, February 8, Spot the robot was presented to the most prominent Polish technology, business, and automotive journalists. 

Cumulatively, in this year, Spot will embark on a Euro tour, which the first leg has already concluded in Poland at four Hyundai Electrified Showrooms, Margo, Nawrot, Karlik, and Auto G.T. Warsaw. 

After that, Spot was brought to the Czech Republic, where it was showcased at the grand opening of an EV showroom in Prague.

Next, from April to July, Spot is slated for the UK, and the tour will continue in Trondheim, Norway. The final leg of the European tour is still in planning.

Initially, Boston Dynamics launched sales of its first commercial robot, the quadruped Spot in June of 2020. 

Now, it has hundreds of robots operating in a variety of industries, including power utilities, construction, manufacturing, oil and gas, and mining.

As for the Hyundai Electrified Showroom, it is a new concept of Hyundai showrooms, which offers customers better access to electrified models. 

In Poland, there are already four Hyundai Electrified Showrooms located in the cities of Gdańsk, Poznań, Warsaw, and Wrocław.

Among all of the automakers, Hyundai offers the widest range of electrified powertrains, including mild hybrids, hybrids, plug-in hybrids, BEVs and FCEVs. 

The electrified models are as such, the MHEV (Mild Hybrid) category consists of the i30 and Tucson, while the HEV (Hybrid) has the Kona Hybrid, Tucson Hybrid and Santa Fe Hybrid.

After that, the PHEV (Plug-in Hybrid) offers the Tucson Plug-in and Santa Fe Plug-in, the EV (Electric) provides the Kona Electric and Ioniq 5, and lastly, the FCEV (Hydrogen) with the NEXO.

Speaking of the Ioniq 5, it is the first model under Hyundai’s Ioniq sub-brand, which is the fully-electric midsize CUV Ioniq 5 launched in early 2021.

Interestingly, in-line with the company’s vision for the future, Hyundai offers customer-centric EV experiences centred on connected lifestyle solutions under the Ioniq line-up brand.

Thus, Motional, a joint venture between Hyundai and Aptiv was formed, and has announced that their latest driverless Ioniq 5-based robotaxi (Ioniq 5 Robotaxi) will be available from 2023.

Based on the fully-electric Ioniq 5, the Ioniq 5 Robotaxi is an SAE Level 4 autonomous vehicle that can operate without a driver. 

According to Hyundai, driverless technology will significantly improve road safety by eliminating accidents caused by human error, which will save millions of lives. 

Plus, the next benefit is that Hyundai believes autonomous vehicles will provide a more accessible, affordable, and reliable form of transportation for everyone. 

That is why Hyundai is building the Ioniq 5 Robotaxis to offer improved mobility options to a wide range of users across the world.

Taking a step further into the field of robotics, Hyundai is developing the future of mobility beyond passenger cars with wearable exoskeletons, unmanned vehicles, and all-terrain rovers.

E.g., for wearable exoskeletons, the MEX: Medical Exoskeleton, CEX: Chairless Exoskeleton and VEX: Vest Exoskeleton. 

For service robots, the DAL-e: Drive you, Assist you, Link with you-experience, H2D2: Hyundai Hotel Delivery Droid and ACR: Automatic Charging Robot.

Overall, grounded on the vision for Progress for Humanity, the company is wholeheartedly devoted to the research and development of robots.

Significantly, in 2021, Hyundai Motor Group acquired a controlling interest in Boston Dynamics, an established leader in developing agile and mobile robots.

By acquiring Boston Dynamics and securing a leading presence in the field of robotics, Hyundai took another major step toward its strategic transformation into a Smart Mobility Solution Provider. 

All things considered, Hyundai aims to develop advanced technologies that enhance people’s lives and promote safety, thereby realizing Progress for Humanity.