Robotics emerged as a central theme at CES 2026, with POSCO Group identifying new opportunities in the rapidly evolving field, according to a March 17 article. The event showcased a wide range of robots, from humanoids and quadrupeds to applications in sports and healthcare, reflecting the growing integration of artificial intelligence with real-world robotics.
The increasing presence of robots at the technology trade show signals that AI-powered machines are moving beyond demonstrations into everyday life and industrial environments. Jae-bum Park, Senior Researcher at POSCO Research Institute, discussed how this trend highlights areas where POSCO Group’s expertise could contribute to industry growth.
One notable exhibit featured Atlas, Boston Dynamics’ humanoid robot equipped with 56 degrees of freedom (DoF), which demonstrated flexible movement and heavy-duty capabilities. Another collaboration involved Boston Dynamics’ Spot robot conducting inspections in high-temperature facilities at a POSCO steelworks. These examples illustrated how robots are becoming reliable co-workers in challenging industrial settings.
The exhibition also included innovations such as Bodyfriend’s wearable AI healthcare robot and advanced sports robots capable of real-time analysis for coaching purposes. The sophistication of robot movement was underscored by discussions around DoF—the number of joint axes a robot can control—and the importance of actuators that combine motors, reducers, sensors, and control circuits for precise motion.
Materials like electrical steel play a crucial role in motor efficiency for robots. POSCO’s Hyper NO electrical steel is designed for high magnetic performance even at very thin thicknesses—a capability shared by only five or six steelmakers worldwide. As demand grows for actuators and batteries due to increased production forecasts—Tesla CEO Elon Musk has predicted up to 10 billion humanoid robots within 25 years—materials such as lithium will become even more significant.
Looking ahead, experts say the future success of robotics will depend not only on advances in software but also on energy solutions and materials technologies that enable sophisticated movement. According to Park and other observers cited in the article, these factors position companies like POSCO Group to play an important role as robotics adoption expands.
