The “2026 Smart Factory & Automation World (AW 2026)” opened on the 4th at COEX in Seoul. As soon as the exhibition opened at 10 a.m., a long line formed around the mass-production model of “Atlas,” developed by Boston Dynamics, Hyundai Motor Group’s robotics company, which stands at the center of the Hyundai Glovis promotional booth. Although it was a non-operational display model, it was the first time Atlas had been presented to the Korean public.

AW 2026 is an exhibition showcasing advanced technologies such as humanoids and industrial robots, factory automation using artificial intelligence (AI), and robotics. With around 500 companies from 12 countries, including Korea, participating, Hyundai Glovis and Hyundai Motor Group Robotics Lab set up one of the largest exhibition areas. For the first time, China’s “Big 5” humanoid makers participated in force, signaling an impending era of future Korea-China competition in robotics.

● “Strengthening Korea’s robot ecosystem”

On the right side of the Robotics Lab booth, the wheeled AI mobility robot “MobED” was busily moving around. MobED is a mobile robot with a body 74 cm wide and 115 cm long, equipped with four wheels. Even when traveling over uneven or sloped surfaces, the loading platform on top of the body remained level.

Hyundai Motor Group announced the launch of domestic sales of MobED on the same day and the establishment of the “MobED Alliance,” a partnership with more than 10 companies including group affiliates such as Hyundai Transys, major component partners, and specialized robot solution providers. Under this structure, Hyundai Motor Group Robotics Lab is responsible for MobED’s development and core technologies, while component makers such as Hyundai Transys and SL supply key parts such as sensors and batteries. Robot solution companies like LS Telra Yutec and Gaon Robotics handle industry-specific customized services and on-site deployment, while related organizations including the Korea AI & Robot Industry Association provide various forms of support, aiming to create a virtuous cycle in the robot industry.

Participating companies expect that forming such an alliance will inject new vitality into the robotics sector. According to the Korea International Trade Association, the Korean robotics industry is strong in finished products but weak in core precision components. In particular, the localization rate of key parts such as speed reducers and controllers is only around 40%. Hyundai Motor Group, which is leading the event, stated, “By building this alliance, the group will strengthen the overall competitiveness of the domestic robotics industry and establish a sustainable robot ecosystem model.”

● Core robot “hand” technology

The event also showcased “hand” technologies, a core element of humanoids and industrial robots. At the Hyundai Glovis exhibition area, a demonstration was underway of a “picking robot,” an arm-type robot with three fingers that accurately picked up automotive parts and placed them in sorting bins on the opposite side. A camera attached near the hand precisely recognized the shape and orientation of the items; the robot grasped small objects with its fingers and moved larger ones by using pneumatic suction cups mounted at the fingertips. Team leader Kim Tae-hoon of the company explained, “The key is the technology that identifies the shape of any object and picks it up with the fingers, and the technology that moves the joints and twists the arm just before placing it in the sorting bin.”

Directly opposite, a “Pallet Shuttle” robot was busily moving cargo boxes stacked on pallets. Developed by Altiole, a Hyundai Glovis subsidiary, this robot can process cargo equivalent to 30 pallets per hour when combined with “Orca,” a logistics control system.

The exhibition also drew attention with the participation of Chinese humanoid robot manufacturers. Chinese company Unitree presented dance moves and motion demonstrations by its humanoid robot “G1” at the venue, while many other robotics firms, including Agibot and Fourier, also took part.

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