Boston Dynamics Atlas Named 'Best Robot' in Best of CES™ 2026 Awards by CNET Group
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- 2026.01.12 (KST)
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- Hyundai Motor Group (the Group) affiliate Boston Dynamics’ Atlas awarded ‘Best Robot’ in the Best of CES™ 2026 awards by CNET Group
- CNET Group is comprised of the leading technology brands CNET, PCMag, Mashable, ZDNET, and Lifehacker
- Atlas made its debut at Hyundai Motor Group’s CES 2026 media conference, which outlined the Group’s AI robotics strategy to lead the physical AI era
SEOUL/LAS VEGAS, January 9, 2026 – Hyundai Motor Group (the Group) affiliate Boston Dynamics’ Atlas has won CNET Group’s ‘Best Robot’ award as part of the Best of CES™ 2026 awards.
Unveiled as part of Hyundai Motor Group’s AI Robotics Strategy in Las Vegas, Atlas made its debut at CES, the world’s most powerful tech event, showcasing how humans will partner with co-working robots in the future to lead the era of human-centered AI robotics.
Why did Boston Dynamics’ Atlas win CNET Group’s Best Robot Award at CES 2026?
The Best of CES™ 2026 awards, which are voted on by leading tech journalists from CNET, PCMag, Mashable, ZDNET and Lifehacker, awarded Boston Dynamics’ Atlas the title of ‘Best Robot’ at CES 2026 thanks to several key factors, including its natural, human-like walk and sleek design.
Outlining why the voting panel of more than 40 experts selected Atlas as its ‘Best Robot’ at CES 2026, CNET Group said :
“The Atlas was hands-down the best of the humanoid bunch we saw at CES 2026. The prototype version demoed at the show impressed us with its naturalistic walking gait. Meanwhile, the sleek product version is ready to be deployed into Hyundai manufacturing facilities from this year, where it might just be working on your next car.”
According to CNET Group, Best of CES™ award winners are “…the most inspiring, boundary-pushing tech products that will define the technology landscape this year.”
Commenting on receiving the Best of CES™ 2026 by CNET Group award for Atlas, Boston Dynamics CEO Robert Playter said:
“We were honored and excited to accept the ‘Best of CES’ award in the robotics category last night. Atlas is the best robot we have ever built, and this kind of recognition is a testament to all the hard work our teams have put into bringing the world’s most capable humanoid to market. We would like to thank the CNET Group, all our colleagues back in Boston, and the entire Hyundai Motor Group family for providing such an amazing showcase for our new robot at CES 2026.”
How will Hyundai Motor Group and Boston Dynamics Deploy Atlas?
Atlas will be deployed at Hyundai Motor Group Metaplant America in Savannah, Georgia by 2028, initially focusing on processes with proven safety and quality benefits, such as parts sequencing.
By 2030, applications will extend to component assembly, and over time, Atlas will also take on tasks involving repetitive motions, heavy loads, and other complex operations – ensuring safer working environments for factory employees to advance smart factory innovation.
As Atlas’s performance is validated, the Group aims to progressively scale adoption across entire production sites.
What Was Atlas Designed For and What Are Its Key Features?
The Atlas humanoid robot presents a groundbreaking leap in robotics innovation designed for industrial applications. As a general-purpose humanoid, Atlas is built to integrate with existing facilities, ensuring the flexibility to adapt as business needs evolve while prioritizing safety, reliability, and predictability. Atlas has been designed for:
- Ease of task training: Most tasks can be taught in under a day, streamlining deployment timelines.
- Autonomy and self-sufficiency: Atlas operates independently from day one, with capabilities such as automatic battery replacement and continuous operation.
- Strength and precision: Able to lift up to 110 lbs (50 kg) and perform precision tasks, Atlas excels in environments requiring repetitive and exhausting manual labor.
- Durable and weatherproof: Atlas is water resistant, designed for washdowns, and operates at its full capabilities – including strength capacity – between -4 and 104 degrees Fahrenheit (20°C to 40° Celsius).
Key Atlas features include:
- Advanced rotational joints and sensors to navigate complex industrial environments, perform repetitive tasks, and leverage AI-driven learning to quickly adapt to new roles
- Mechanical design enabling dynamic movement, ensuring it can operate in spaces traditionally suited to humans
- 56 degrees of freedom (DoF), most with fully rotational joints, and human-scale hands with tactile sensing, engineered to handle demanding tasks autonomously