Published 00:49 IST, January 11th 2019
CES 2019: Hyundai Elevate walking car has four legs and this is what it looks like
Hyundai is showcasing "Elevate," first of its kind Ultimate Mobility Vehicle (UMV) that combines technology found in electric cars and robots to travel across the terrain in the event of an earthquake.
Hyundai is showcasing "Elevate," first of its kind Ultimate Mobility Vehicle (UMV) that combines technology found in electric cars and robots to travel across the terrain in the event of an earthquake. Hyundai Elevate is currently a concept and it's based on a modular EV platform. Elevate is capable of switching out different bodies depending on situations.
Similar to Boston Dynamics robot dog, this robotic leg architecture of Hyundai Elevate features five degrees of freedom in addition to wheel hub propulsion motors. Hyundai explains it can fold up into a stowed drive-mode after cutting power to the joints. What's more, opting for integrated passive suspension system increases battery efficiency.
Commenting on the announcement, this is what John Suh, Hyundai vice president and head of Hyundai CRADLE, has to say:
“This technology goes well beyond emergency situations - people living with disabilities worldwide that don’t have access to an ADA ramp could hail an autonomous Hyundai Elevate that could walk up to their front door, the level itself, and allow their wheelchair to roll right in – the possibilities are limitless.”
For real-time updates on CES 2019, check out our live blog here.
Updated 16:54 IST, June 19th 2019