Hyundai’s charming autonomous robot can be everything from a golf trolley to an e-scooter – and it’s going on sale soon
- Mobile Eccentric Droid Goes into Production
- It is designed to work indoors and on rough outdoor terrain
- Hyundai promises automotive-grade engineering
No, it’s not the star of Disney’s latest animated film: Hyundai has announced a fully autonomous robotics platform that can be designed for just about any use case, and which 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 give a little wave, like a well-trained dog.
Far from being a gimmick, Hyundai says the mechanism stabilizes the platform by dynamically adjusting posture, so it can efficiently navigate small bumps and even climb a step.
What you place on this platform is entirely up to you, as MobED is designed to be able to perform a number of tasks.
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Equip it with a robotic arm and it can move around a warehouse, picking and packing products autonomously.
Alternatively, it could be used to deliver packages autonomously, act as a golf cart to transport clubs around a course, transform into an automated cart so influencers can capture content hands-free, and even sport a touchscreen so it becomes a full-fledged assistant robot.
Hyundai says the platform will be made from automotive-grade materials and built on a production line so it can be scaled. The company also created the control interface so it could be flown like a drone, as well as produced software to allow users to automate operations.
The company is serious about the future of its rolling droid, saying it will sell a MobED Pro model, equipped with sensors and Lidar for autonomous use, as well as a Basic version designed to serve as a “basis for research and development.”
The future is robot
There’s currently no word on pricing, or whether regular punters will be able to pick up a MobED to use as an electric scooter, but the company is serious about the future of robotics.
I personally visited CRADLE in Los Angeles – the Hyundai Center for Augmented Robotic Design in Life Experiences – and witnessed its work on “walking cars,” which it says could be the rescue vehicles of the future.
Called Elevate, this concept sees 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 user needs, climbing up to a wheelchair user’s front door.
While MobED isn’t exactly a walking car, the idea isn’t that far off, offering a stable platform capable of effortlessly and autonomously navigating difficult terrain, without falling over like the myriad humanoid robots circulating on YouTube.
What’s placed at the top of MobED is anyone’s guess, but I’d bet a lot of money will be used in factories and warehouses very soon. I’m waiting for the autonomous eScooter version, so I can put the bike away for good.
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