Hyundai revealed on Wednesday its plans to introduce a groundbreaking type of vehicle at the 2019 Consumer Electronics Show (CES), which it terms the “ultimate mobility vehicle” or UMV.
The South Korean automaker envisions this new class of vehicle as one that merges electric power with robotic technology, enabling travel in areas inaccessible to conventional wheeled vehicles. Hyundai will showcase a model named “Elevate” during its press conference at CES 2019, scheduled for 3 p.m. PST on Monday, January 7.
From the limited images available, the Elevate appears to be a pod-like design featuring legs that culminate in wheels. This configuration aims to strike a balance between traditional off-road vehicles and the imaginative walking machines found in science fiction. While vehicles that rely solely on legs could excel in rugged terrains unsuitable for wheeled transport, they often face challenges with efficiency and range on smoother surfaces, which is where wheeled vehicles typically perform well.
The Hyundai Elevate is designed to address the limitations of both transport types. It combines the legged machine’s ability to navigate extremely rough terrains with the wheeled vehicle’s advantages in simplicity, balance, and efficiency. By incorporating wheels instead of traditional robotic ankles, this innovative approach may enable the Elevate to traverse uneven landscapes that would destabilize many current advanced walking robots, whether bipedal or quadrupedal.
Hyundai envisions the Elevate as potentially serving in roles such as an ambulance, particularly in difficult terrains, suggesting it could be useful in mountain rescue operations. This concept aligns with broader industry trends, as electric propulsion is increasingly seen as a solution to the power limitations encountered by internal combustion engines at high altitudes. Volkswagen, for instance, adopted electric technology for its I.D. R race car, which shattered the course record at the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb last June.
.
