Advancing archery's popularity shot for shot
6 minute read
Archery is a sport in which years of training, continual skill-sharpening, and countless hours spent focusing on one goal all come down to an exhilarating 1.3 seconds. In this "heartbeat" of a moment, new world records can be set and history made. As a skill that has been practiced since ancient times, archery continues to captivate people worldwide with its precision, inner focus, and elegance.
Our aim – elevating the game
As a dedicated supporter of archery for 40 years, we at Hyundai continue to promote and popularize the sport. We take great pride in equipping and helping train the Korean national team with game-changing technology that can also be found in our automotive innovations. Additionally, we host special events to bring the sport closer to people and showcase its many exciting facets.
By partnering up, we hope to contribute to advancing the sport and achieve our vision of progress for humanity together. Jaehoon Chang, President and Chief Executive Officer of Hyundai Motor Company
The science of bulls eyes
Archery tournaments have been around for over 500 years as a documented sport. It has also been an Olympic discipline from almost the very beginning. A lot has happened since then, and today, archery is as "high-tech" as any other competitive sport. At Hyundai, archery has always held a special significance.
Ever since we started promoting competitive archery and fostering the Korean national team, we have used the same engineering curiosity and excellence that goes into all our vehicles to develop the sport. Today, our domestically produced archery equipment is sought after and appreciated by various international teams. Our technological support now covers every aspect of the sport, from state-of-the-art shooting machines to a Camera-based heart rate sensor, Customized 3D-printed bow grips, and much more.
Advanced shooting machines keep archers on target
We at Hyundai have always taken a proactive approach to introducing cutting-edge technology for the benefit of athletes. To help archers train under any circumstance and perfect their skills, we developed two unique state-of-the-art arrow-shooting machines whose function and performance are as captivating as their looks.
High-precision shooting machine for Recurve & Compound Archery
Imagine a piece of technology that can precisely hit the same spot on a target from 70 meters away, thus simulating the accuracy of an actual competition. Our High-precision shooting machine for Recurve & Compound Archery does just that. This eye-catching machine features a precision actuator that can consistently fire arrows at angles and intensities preset in advance. The angle, height, and direction of each shot are determined by the proportion of each athlete. Usually, 24 arrows are shot at a time, with 10% of the arrows determined to be defective. This unique feature helps archers to accurately select the highest quality arrows among those used in the competition. Moreover, athletes can detect any abnormalities in their bow beforehand by analyzing the draw force curve of the bow.
See how our High-precision shooting machine helps check arrow efficiency
Self-adjusting shooting robot
Sometimes, the best sparring partner has a high-tech heart, like our Self-adjusting shooting robot. Created to recreate authentic outdoor environmental conditions, it responds especially to wind and the distribution of arrow scores and adjusts itself to ensure the arrow hits the center. Among its many advantages is that the training experience is just like an actual match. Moreover, archers can compete against the machine one-on-one in a tournament-like atmosphere and perform like never before.
In terms of boundary-pushing engineering, both shooting machines demonstrate our constant advancement and dedication to precise robot control technology. As pioneers in robot automation, we are committed to continually finding new application areas where this promising technology can improve manufacturing, product value, and quality of life. An example is our Automatic Charging Robot (ACR), which uses the same robotic arm technology and camera innovation to automatically charge EVs.
Our Self-adjusting shooting robot helps archers simulate real matches
Customized grips via 3D printing
The right equipment is just as crucial to an archer as training. Even small factors can impede the relationship between the bow, arrow, and outcomes. To ensure that both archers and their equipment function as one, we took the customizable freedom of 3D printing to offer perfectly adapted and individualized grips. During the course of their service lifetime, grips can undergo considerable stress and gradual wear. Often, when archers try to mend them themselves, the results can impact their performance. 3D scanning and printing are optimally tailored to the individual's hand shape and can be made of various materials according to their preference. So that they can have precision like never before.
Creating components using 3D printing has also become an essential part of the automotive manufacturing process. Just like designing a new bow or grip, the first step is creating a clay model of a car or component, which is then thoroughly scanned using a 3D scanner. The gathered information is then translated into the final product, which is used and enjoyed by both archers and automotive enthusiasts.
Discover how 3D printing is helping customize archer's grips
Camera-based heart rate sensor
Archery is all about focus and inner peace. Our Camera-based heart rate sensor helps archers stay in their optimal zone by measuring, recording, and analyzing their heart rate. Unlike conventional measurement-taking devices, this new technology measures by calculating the color of an archer's face as it changes in sync with their heartbeat. The system can measure over 10 meters away without having to attach any device to the athlete. With each shot, the system compiles and displays all relevant data on a screen, enabling effective real-time evaluation and eventual correction. So that they can focus like never before.
Our cutting-edge facial measuring technology can do more than just help archers concentrate. It can also read a person’s emotional state to help them relax and focus, like with our Emotion Adaptive Vehicle Control (EAVC) system. By using AI's quick analytic power, the system can optimize a car’s environment based on information from both inside and outside the vehicle.
Watch how our heart rate sensor keeps archers in their optimal zone
Multi-camera posture analysis system
An archer's stance is crucial and forms the foundation of every successful shot. To ensure optimal posture, we created a Multi-camera posture analysis system. The advanced system with cutting-edge optics provides immediate feedback on an athlete's standing position by recording and displaying top and front-view videos, which were previously difficult for archers to check, having once fired their bow. So that they can shoot like never before.
Similar camera assistance technology is also found in our Surround View Monitor(SVM) feature, which helps drivers park by allowing them to see around their vehicle.
See how our posture analysis system keeps archers right on target
Stepping into the archer’s shoes
Archery is not only discipline and concentration but also thrills, speed, action, and suspense. We want to give everyone the excitement of being behind the bow, ready to set a new world record. Our exhibition at Hyundai Motor Studio Goyang, The Path of an Archer, does just that while introducing participants to some of the innovative breakthrough technologies that have helped make the Korean National Archery Team so successful over the years. The event consists of an installation where the participant is surrounded by a large 3.5m x 19m widescreen with an anamorphic effect. There, they can experience an archer's journey from the very first shot with their bow to competing in the World Championships as a professional athlete. While taking part, they also get to know first-hand some of our technical innovations created to enhance performance, like the Camera-based heart rate sensor and Multi-camera posture analysis system. While embedded in the archery experience zone, they are also introduced to other innovations that are publicly displayed for the first time, like our Self-adjusting shooting robot or the Customized 3D-printed bow grips via 3D printing used by the Korean national team.
All eyes on archery
We are as passionate about archery as we are about automobiles, which is why we put all our engineering skills, design excellence, and technological finesse into both. Archery and automotive have a lot in common: both are about creating a perfect vehicle to reach its goal in the most effective, unique, and memorable way possible. Moreover, both take aerodynamics, speed, and power and translate them into precision and peak performance. As a sport, archery is inclusive and brings people from all over the world for an exciting yet peaceful tournament that has something for everyone. Through our sponsorships, we hope to broaden archery's global appeal and help create the champions of tomorrow.
Follow @hyundai on Instagram and get a "day-in-the-life" look at what it's like to be a Korean National Archery Team member.