- The mobile eccentric droid is entering production
- It is designed to operate indoors and on rugged outdoor terrain.
- Hyundai promises automotive-grade engineering
No, this isn’t the star of Disney’s latest animated movie: Hyundai has announced a fully autonomous robotic platform that can be designed for virtually any use case and could be the answer to many mobility problems.
The Mobile Eccentric Droid, or MobED for short, features a unique eccentric control mechanism that allows all four wheels to rotate and articulate, blurring the boundaries of the wheels and legs. He can even cock a wheel and wave, like a well-trained dog.
Far from being a gimmick, Hyundai says the mechanism stabilizes the platform by dynamically adjusting its stance, so it can effectively traverse small bumps and even climb a step.
What you put on this platform is entirely up to you, since MobED is designed to be able to perform a series of tasks.
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By equipping it with a robotic arm, it will be able to move around a warehouse, picking and packing products autonomously.
Alternatively, it could be used to autonomously deliver packages, act as a golf cart to transport clubs around a course, transform into an automated dolly so influencers can capture content hands-free, and even have a touch screen so it becomes a full-fledged helping robot.
Hyundai says the platform will be made from automotive-grade materials and built on a production line so it can be expanded. The company has also created the control interface so that it can be driven like a drone, in addition to producing software so that users can automate operations.
The company is serious about the future of its rolling droid, saying it will sell a MobED Pro model, complete with sensors and Lidar for autonomous use, as well as a Basic version that is designed to act as a “base for research and development.”
The future is robots.
There’s currently no word on pricing or whether regular punters will be able to pick up a MobED to use as a radical electric scooter, but the company is serious about the future of robotics.
I personally visited CRADLE in Los Angeles, Hyundai’s Center for Robotic Augmented Life Experience Design, and witnessed firsthand their work on “walking cars,” which are believed to be the rescue vehicles of the future.
Dubbed Elevate, this concept consists of a chassis mounted on four robotic legs, each with a traditional wheel attached to the end. These concepts can traverse difficult terrain, but also adapt to meet users’ needs, going up to a wheelchair user’s front door.
While MobED isn’t exactly a walking car, the idea isn’t far off: It offers a stable platform that can autonomously and effortlessly navigate challenging terrain, without falling over like the countless humanoid robots circulating on YouTube.
What goes on top of MobED is anyone’s guess, but I’d bet a lot of money that they will be used in factories and warehouses very soon. I’m waiting for the autonomous version of eScooter, so I can store the bike forever.
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