Ahead of CES 2022, Hyundai has revealed its latest robot — the Mobile Eccentric Droid (MobED). Robotics is getting more high-tech with every passing year, resulting in highly-capable robots that can climb stairs, open doors, and even race against a Tesla. While Boston Dynamics has already demoed some of the newest and most out-there concepts in robotics, the latest device from Hyundai now seeks to push the limits of robotics experimentation.
Hyundai is mainly known for its automotive offerings, but it manufactures and sells a whole lot more than just vehicles. The company has also gotten into robotics and has been demoing concept devices like the humanoid robot DAL-e and walking car robots that would put the Transformers to shame. The latest robot is the newest addition to that list, and while it doesn't have the same wow factor at first, the tech behind it is pretty impressive.
Hyundai announced its new robot this week, a four-wheeled Segway-style electric vehicle that the company is calling the Mobile Eccentric Droid (MobED). It comes with four independently adjustable wheels and a low, flat body that the company says can be used to carry just about anything across any surface. The wheels enable the robot to tackle any terrain, while the body helps it deliver packages, serve food and drinks, transport the elderly and people with reduced mobility, etc. In addition, the MobED comes with 12-inch tires and a 2 kWh battery that the company claims can run for up to four hours on a single charge. It weighs 110lbs (around 50 kgs) and can move at up to 19 mph (about 30 kmph).
MobED Can Deliver Drinks And Carry Humans
The promo video launched by Hyundai shows off several possible use cases for the new vehicle, including delivering drinks and carrying baby strollers. The video also shows the robot holding up a screen with detailed heart-rate data while a woman works out, as well as following a rollerskater impeccably as she twists and turns her way through a winding path. The Hyundai MobED will be displayed at the Las Vegas Convention Center from January 5-8 for CES 2022.
As robots become more mainstream, they look more 'normal' than the weird contraptions seen in science fiction movies. While not every robot will go on to achieve the same stardom as Boston Dynamics' robot dog Spot, they'll likely become a more integral part of human lives going forward. Hyundai is betting that it will be at the forefront of that robotic revolution once that era starts in earnest.
Source: Hyundai Motor Group