Hyundai's "Walking" Cars May Soon Be A Reality!
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Car manufacturers often create concept vehicles to showcase their technological prowess. However, most never get past the prototype stage because the designs are too far-fetched or expensive to make on a large scale. But on May 5, 2022, South Korean car manufacturer Hyundai announced plans to further develop the Elevate and Tiger X-1. The radical concept Ultimate Mobility Vehicles (UMVs) were unveiled at the Consumer Electronics Show in 2019 and 2021, respectively.
The Elevate is reminiscent of the four-legged All Terrain Armored Transport (AT-AT) walkers used by Imperial ground forces in the Star Wars franchise. The battery-powered vehicle can accommodate up to four passengers. Equipped with extendable robotic legs, the vehicle can step over debris and climb over five-foot-tall walls, while keeping its passengers completely level. Elevate can also be driven on roads and freeways with the legs tucked in.
Hyundai believes Elevate could be used for rural exploration or to help first responders navigate uneven terrain in the aftermath of natural disasters. The vehicle could also make it easier to transport those in wheelchairs. The company envisions the Hyundai Elevate "walking" up to their front doors and allowing the wheelchair to roll right inside.
The Tiger X-1 has similar features to the Elevate. However, it is unmanned, autonomous, and small enough to be carried by a drone.
Hyundai maintains the Tiger X-1 could be used for scientific explorations of extreme environments or for emergency services, like sending medicine or equipment to the site of a natural disaster. The vehicle could perhaps someday even be used to traverse the surface of the Moon or Mars.
The Korean car manufacturer is also working on making urban air mobility vehicles (UAMs) a reality by 2028. The company thinks the autonomous flying taxis will make it easier to transport commuters and cargo in densely populated urban cities.
Resources: Hyundai.com, Cnet.com, Businessinsider.com, Studyfinds.com
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59 Comments
- monkeydluffy8 monthswalking Cars? i want one
- davins10 monthsAwsomeeee
- hiroki12 monthsI love this article
- linden2009almost 2 yearsthis would be terrible on the roads because it has less balance so it will fall over easily and it would be really slow. but i guess less fatal crashes
- littlejangoover 1 yearit could spread its legs out for more stability while transporting people so it whould'nt fall over also the when the legs are spread out the body can be moved very close to the ground and so the center of gravity would be very low down
- siualmost 2 yearsi need both
- gooding2065about 2 yearsI WANT THE ONE AT THE TOP
- 29jgreen1about 2 yearsits insane
- 29jgreen1about 2 yearsthis is super cool
- eddieg2670about 2 yearsi am going with robo dog
- 98765432about 2 yearsCool, it looks like it might take a long time to create.