Recently, Hyundai Motor Group launched a new concept small mobile platform "MobED, Mobile Eccentric Droid" that integrates cutting-edge robotics. The MobED platform is an innovatively designed platform with eccentric wheels with 4 independent suspensions on a low-flat rectangular body. This independent suspension eccentric wheels are freely adjustable in wheelbase and steering angle to maintain stability even on inclined or uneven roads, as well as smooth movement in complex urban environments.
Editor ・ typography ・ Ju Yishu
With a range of innovative technologies such as advanced "eccentric wheel" drive, high-tech steering, braking and height control systems, the MobED platform can adapt to a wide range of road surfaces and complex environments, while three motors mounted on each wheel not only provide power, control the precise steering of the wheels, but also maintain the optimal posture of the body.
Each wheel power and steering control system can achieve 360 ° in situ rotation and omnidirectional movement, ensuring that the platform can be effectively passed even in a narrow environment, and the body attitude control system can adjust the height of each wheel according to the ground environment to minimize body shaking.
In addition, the MobED platform can also expand the distance between the front wheels and the rear wheels to 65 cm according to the needs of high-speed driving, etc., to achieve smooth driving. In complex environments where low-speed driving is required, the distance between the front and rear wheels is reduced to 45cm, making it easy to travel even on narrow roads.
The MobED platform is 60cm wide, 67cm long, 33cm high, weighs 50kg, has a battery capacity of 2kWh, a maximum speed of 30km/h, can travel for about 4 hours on a single charge, and uses 12-inch tires to effectively absorb ground impact. In addition, after changing the size of the mobile device, the battery capacity can be further increased and the driving distance will be longer.
In particular, the MobED platform is developed using the same platform as the skateboard, so it can be flexibly applied to a variety of application scenarios depending on the device on board. The MobED platform has the ability to freely adjust wheels and bodywork, and can be used in all aspects such as distribution, guided services, and the use of shooting equipment that require minimal shaking.
At the same time, because the MobED platform can be relatively free to pass through the bumpy road speed bumps and narrow space, the scope of use of MobED can be expanded to the scope of outdoor guided, service robots. In addition, if it is expanded to the extent that it can carry people, the MobED platform can improve the mobility of the elderly and the disabled, or be flexibly used in single-person mobility tools such as strollers and recreational vehicles.
"The MobED platform overcomes the limitations of existing indoor guidance and service robots, dramatically improving the overall mobility of the platform and ensuring use in complex urban environments." DongJin Hyun, managing director of Modern Motor Group Robotics Lab, said. At the same time, we also expect potential users of MobED to further expand the scope of use of the MobED platform. ”
Hyundai Motor plans to participate in the "CES 2022" in Las Vegas next January with the theme of "Robots" to showcase mobED objects equipped with bootstrappers, and will also announce future visions and new concept robots.
With the development and change of the times, major car companies have made efforts in the field of robot technology, continuously improving the utilization rate of robots in factories, logistics, automation and other fields, and gradually transforming into a comprehensive mobile travel industry. Hyundai Motor Group, which is accelerating its transformation into a Smart Mobility Solution Provider, demonstrated mex, a wearable device that can help paraplegic patients walk again, as early as CES 2017. In 2018, Hyundai Motor Group launched VEX and CEX, which reduce the heavy physical workload of workers. In June 2019, Hyundai Motor Group launched a pilot project of hotel service robots. In addition, Hyundai Motor has also set up a robot laboratory specializing in robot research and development. In 2020, Hyundai Motor Group further focused on robot research and development, and joined forces with Soft Bank Group to acquire Boston Dynamics.
With the acquisition of Boston Dynamics, Hyundai Motor Group's comprehensive technical strength in the field of service robots and logistics robots has been greatly improved. In September, Hyundai Motor Group announced its first on-the-ground cooperation project after the acquisition of Boston Dynamics, the FactorySafety Service Robot, which is responsible for industrial site safety, and began trial operations in kia's Bright factory. At the same time, with the help of Boston Dynamics' robot "Pick" for unloading goods and the mobile robot for warehouses under development, it will help Hyundai Motor Group effectively develop the robot logistics business.
In addition, Hyundai Motor Group plans to integrate robotics into the research and development of autonomous driving technology and urban air mobility (UAM), as well as provide synergy for smart factory platforms. Hyundai Motor Group hopes to combine the technological advantages of Boston Dynamics to form a new value chain centered on robots.