At CES 2019, Hyundai Motor Group revealed a futuristic walking car concept called Elevate with wheels attached to robotic legs that allow users to drive, walk, or climb over extremely rocky terrain.
Now, it has unveiled a new version of its first-ever four-legged Ultimate Mobility Vehicle (UMV): TIGER, which is short for Transforming Intelligent Ground Excursion Robot. It’s the company’s second UMV design but the first uncrewed UMV concept.
TIGER is a collaboration between Hyundai’s New Horizons Studio, Autodesk (famous for engineering software), and Sundberg-Ferar. It’s a robotic transport vehicle based on a modular platform architecture equipped with a sophisticated wheel and leg locomotion system. It’s designed to carry payloads over remote and inaccessible terrain to facilitate scientific exploration.
TIGER can operate as both a four-wheel-drive vehicle or a four-legged walking machine. When its legs are retracted, it in all-wheel-drive mode. Like this, it’s most efficient because it moves by rolling traction. But when things get too complicated for wheels or the vehicle gets stuck, it can switch to walking mode. Elevate could do this too. TIGER, however, goes beyond in capabilities as it’s the first UMV with 360-degree directional control and a range of sensors for remote observation. It also has GPS, 4G connectivity, and two radar panels that penetrate the ground for exploration.
Dr. John Suh, the Head of New Horizons Studio, said:
Vehicles like TIGER, and the technologies underpinning it, give us an opportunity to push our imaginations. We are constantly looking at ways to rethink vehicle design and development and redefine the future of transportation and mobility.
TIGER’s total weight and size are kept to a minimum thanks to the carbon fiber composite additive printing. This is crucial because it enables users to transport the machine to remote locations via crewless aerial vehicles. It can deliver payloads for rescue missions or exploration to a wider range of extreme or unreachable locations. TIGER can transport and deliver a large load of emergency supplies or packages in a bay housed within its body. It can advance in walk mode to keep payloads more level than a ground vehicle would.
David Byron, the Manager of Design and Innovation Strategy at Sundberg-Ferar, said:
TIGER is a modular platform design allowing different bodies to be attached to the chassis for unique applications such as cargo delivery or surveillance in locations not suitable for humans.
Hyundai also envisions the UMV being ideal for 360-degree surface evaluation for Moon or Mars exploration missions.
https://youtu.be/M1SbFTpvfFM
Since the company recently acquired Boston Dynamic, the robotic powerhouse famous for its walking robots, we’ll likely be seeing all sorts of exiting machines like these. There may even be a buyable version of TIGER in about five years. New Horizons Studio is expected to redefine vehicular mobility.
Meanwhile, another company made an unmanned robotic drone called Velox that can drive up mountains, in snow, and in water. It doesn’t carry payloads, but it can charge itself as it moves. It’s made for exploration or surveillance missions.
