Boston Dynamics’ Atlas Crowned ‘Best Robot’ at CES 2026
LAS VEGAS / SEOUL, January 9, 2026: In a landmark moment for physical Artificial Intelligence, Atlas, the humanoid robot from Boston Dynamics, has been named ‘Best Robot’ in the Best of CES™ 2026 awards by CNET Group. The award highlights Atlas’s evolution from a research prototype to a sophisticated industrial tool ready for real-world deployment.
- 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
- Atlas to be deployed at Hyundai Motor Group Metaplant America in the U.S. by 2028, with the aim of further global expansion by 2030
The Gold Standard of Humanoids
The CNET Group—a coalition of tech authorities including CNET, PCMag, Mashable, ZDNET, and Lifehacker—selected Atlas from a competitive field of robotic innovations. A panel of over 40 experts praised the robot for its naturalistic walking gait and a sleek, production-ready design that moves beyond the bulky frames of traditional humanoids.
The Atlas was hands-down the best of the humanoid bunch we saw at CES 2026,” stated the CNET Group voting panel. “It is ready to be deployed into Hyundai manufacturing facilities where it might just be working on your next car.
Strategic Deployment: From CES to the Factory Floor
Hyundai Motor Group, which acquired Boston Dynamics, outlined a clear roadmap for integrating Atlas into the global workforce:
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By 2028: Atlas will begin operations at the Hyundai Motor Group Metaplant America in Savannah, Georgia. Its initial roles will focus on logistics and “parts sequencing.”
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By 2030: The robot’s applications will expand to full component assembly and handling heavy loads, aiming to create safer environments by taking over repetitive and exhausting manual labor.
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.
