• 2 min read
Hyundai strike erupts over Atlas robots
Hyundai workers in Ulsan have gone on strike, demanding limits on humanoid robots such as Atlas before deployment on factory lines.
Image: iXBT
A Hyundai auto plant in South Korea has been hit by a strike over the possible use of humanoid robots on production lines, a move the source describes as the first such case in the global auto industry.
The dispute was triggered by Hyundai’s January presentation of the humanoid robot Atlas. According to the report, the robot stands about 1.9 meters tall, can move freely, and has joints that rotate 360 degrees. After the demonstration, the union said Atlas should not be allowed to work at the factory without prior agreement from employees.
The strike is taking place at Hyundai facilities in Ulsan. Alongside demands for higher wages, worker representatives are also seeking guarantees around the rollout of artificial intelligence and new automation technologies that could lead to job cuts.
Recommended reading
DST-Ural’s FT7E hybrid tractor reaches Russian fields
Hyundai has not announced when Atlas might appear at its South Korean plants. But the union argues that rules for using machines like this need to be negotiated in advance, not after deployment begins.
The report adds that Hyundai Motor Group had previously said it plans to roll out humanoid Boston Dynamics Atlas robots at scale across its factories, with plans for up to 25,000 humanoid robots at Hyundai and Kia sites.
Frontier Editor
Dan is our resident futurist, covering electric mobility, space exploration, and the smart home. He's interested in atoms just as much as bits. Whether it's a new battery chemistry, a reusable rocket, or a protocol that finally makes IoT devices talk to each other, Dan breaks down the engineering that pushes humanity forward.
via iXBT
