South Korea's archery teams captured gold in both men's and women's events at the Paris 2024 Olympics, but their success wasn't just due to traditional training methods. Behind their victories was a suite of advanced technologies developed by Hyundai Motor Group, including a cutting-edge archery robot.
Following the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, Hyundai took athlete and coach feedback to upgrade its training systems, introducing innovations like an archery robot, multi-angle training cameras, portable bow-testing devices, and more. These tools were designed to simulate the pressures of real competition and enhance the precision of athletes' performances.
The star of the lineup, the archery robot, allows athletes to engage in one-on-one practice matches with a machine capable of near-perfect accuracy, unaffected by environmental factors like wind. This gives athletes a realistic, high-pressure training experience even when human opponents aren't available.
Hyundai also deployed multi-camera systems for detailed analysis of shooting posture, capturing angles from overhead and head-on to provide athletes with critical feedback. Portable bow-testing devices ensured optimal equipment performance, while specialized cooling hats helped maintain athletes' focus in extreme heat.
Looking ahead, Hyundai plans to continue its innovation streak, developing AI-driven "motion magnification technology" to capture and analyze subtle movements during archery, assisting in fine-tuning equipment and technique in varying conditions.
Hyundai's commitment to archery has deep roots. Former Hyundai Chairman Mong-koo Chung served as head of the Korea Archery Association from 1985 to 1997, and his son, current Chairman Euisun Chung, has held the position since 2005. Under Euisun Chung's leadership, Hyundai has built a comprehensive training ecosystem for athletes, including offering free English education, while also pushing the boundaries of archery technology.
