The South Korean carmaker Hyundai recently boasted a newly formed technology department called New Horizons Studio, whose mission should be to develop the so-called UMV. Don't you know what this acronym means?
Last year, Hyundai presented the unusual Elevate concept at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas, which shocked the world. The machine, which could ride and walk on its wheels, was one of the first visions of the so-called Ultimate Mobility Vehicle (UMV) - a vehicle for maximum mobility.
According to the company, UMV models are unique in their unprecedented mobility and push the boundaries of what is possible with vehicles. At the same time, the carmaker itself described UMV vehicles as unconventional off-road machines that can get customers to places where other machines cannot. The concept itself came to us at the time, but probably no one gave it a big chance to implement it. However, this is changing with the creation of the New Horizons Studio department.
Hyundai has not yet announced any more detailed product plans for the new department. However, they added that thanks to the combination of robotics and wheel motion technology, New Horizont Studio is expected to redefine vehicle mobility.
As a reminder, let's add that the Elevate concept was powered by four wheels on robotic arms. The concept could easily change its ground clearance, wheelbase, and track. What's more, the concept didn't just have to ride bikes - its robotic arms allowed it to mimic walking and go simple climbing on inaccessible terrain. Moreover, the Elevate concept is based on a modular EV platform with the ability to shut down various entities for specific situations. The architecture of the robotic foot has five degrees of freedom plus wheel-drive motors and is enabled by the latest electric drive technology. This design is uniquely capable of walking, as well as mammals and reptiles, and allows it to move in any direction. The legs also fold into compound drive mode, where joint strength is reduced, and the use of an integrated passive suspension system maximizes battery efficiency. This allows the Elevate to drive at highway speeds like any other vehicle. But no one else can climb a five-foot-long wall, cross a five-foot gap, walk-on diverse terrain, and reach a 15-foot-wide track width, all while maintaining complete body and passenger equality. The combination of articulated wheel motion also provides a new mobility paradigm that enables higher walking speed, unique dynamic driving positions, and torsional control at the end of each foot.
During the presentation at CES 2019, the concept was still in the early stages of development, yet there was talk of its wide range of applications in the armed and rescue services, in the role of vehicles for people with reduced mobility, etc. Its further development will be interesting to watch.
Although it is a relatively wild concept and according to the president of New Horizons Studio John Suh, the Elevate is the first Transformer vehicle in the world, this vehicle could find its application especially in rescue work, where it could reach even where ordinary rescuers fail, for example (eg during natural disasters). However, according to the company, UMV also focuses on customers who need to travel in terrain that is not passable for ordinary cars, including terrain where vehicles have never moved before. Increased car mobility could also help people in wheelchairs.
At the same time, the UMV concept perfectly supports the vision of Hyundai Motor Group in terms of innovation in the field of automotive mobility. In addition to the Elevate model, for example, Hyundai is working with Uber to develop a flying taxi.