- Mobile eccentric droid goes into production
- It is designed to work indoors and on rough terrain.
- Hyundai promises automotive-grade engineering
No, it's not the star of Disney's latest animated film—Hyundai has announced a fully autonomous robotic platform that can be designed for almost any use case and could be the solution to many mobility problems.
The Mobile Eccentric Droid – or MobED for short – features a unique eccentric control mechanism that allows all four wheels to pivot and articulate, blurring the lines between wheels and legs. He may even cock the handlebars and wave his arm slightly, like a well-trained dog.
Far from a trick Hyundai The mechanism is said to stabilize the platform by dynamically adjusting its position so it can effectively negotiate small uneven surfaces and even climb steps.
What you post on this platform is entirely up to you as MobED is designed to perform a number of tasks.
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Install a robotic one on it hand and it can move around the warehouse, picking and packing products independently.
Alternatively, it can be used for autonomous package delivery, as a golf cart to transport clubs around the course, transform into an automated cart so influencers can capture content hands-free, and even use a touchscreen to become a full-fledged bot assistant.
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 a control interface so it can be controlled like a drone, and developed software to allow users to automate operations.
The company is taking the future of its rolling droid seriously, saying it will sell a MobED Pro model complete with sensors and lidar for standalone use, as well as a basic version that is meant to serve as a “foundation for research and development.”
The future belongs to robots
There's currently no information on pricing or whether casual gamers will be able to purchase the MobED to use as an electric scooter, but the company is taking the future of robotics seriously.
I personally visited LOVER at the Los Angeles-based Hyundai Robotic Life Experience Design Center and witnessed first-hand his work on “walking cars” that he believes could be the life-saving vehicles of the future.
Called Elevate, the concept features a chassis mounted on four robotic legs, each with a traditional wheel attached to the end. These concepts can overcome difficult terrain and also adapt to the needs of wheelchair users approaching the front door.
While MobED isn't exactly a walking machine, the idea isn't too far off from creating a stable platform that can easily and autonomously navigate difficult terrain without falling over like so many humanoid bots bypass YouTube.
What's on top of MobED is anyone's guess, but I'm willing to bet that money will be used in factories and warehouses very soon. I'm waiting for a standalone version of the eScooter so I can put the bike away for good.
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