Hyundai has had a rather unusual car model in its repertoire for some time. The Elevate has four legs attached to its wheels and can even walk properly, at least the concept design of it. With a new studio in the USA, the Korean car manufacturer now wants to turn this into reality.
For the opening of New Horizons Studio in Bozeman, Montana in the USA announces Hyundaiwhich projects the new development and research center will work on. Mainly this should be dedicated to Ultimate Mobility Vehicles (UMVs). They are called that because they are supposed to be able to cross extremely rough terrain.
Hyundai already had a prototype ready in 2019 with the Elevate. Its wheels stand on legs that serve either as huge suspension or as real legs with which the vehicle can run. Of course, Elevate can also drive normally on normal roads and easy terrain. This is what it looks like in action:
link to YouTube content
Just a robot
The work of the Hyundai team in Bozeman is said to be based on this Elevate. In the first step, they should develop a UMV robot that can climb almost any terrain unmanned. The surrounding area in Bozeman, with its hills and rocky deserts, is the perfect testing ground. The robot should be able to transport various payloads without human help.
In the second step, the researchers then want to build a vehicle that is more similar to the Elevate from the video and can carry up to two people. As can be seen in the video, it should consist of a modular frame that can be fitted with different attachments. It can transport payloads, more people or even a stretcher for patients.
Meanwhile, Tesla is thinking of completely different ways of making the electric car more versatile. The models should have integrated your Steam library in the future:
more on the subject
Tesla wants to bring your entire Steam library into the electric car
The areas of application are diverse
Hyundai sees the UMV in various areas of application. For example, it can be used in disaster areas. In the event of forest fires or earthquakes, it can use its legs to overcome rough terrain and thus reach patients directly, which ordinary ambulances cannot reach in this way.
In addition, the vehicle could also be used on other planets to transport raw materials from A to B. But that also works here on earth, for example in mines or on impassable large construction sites. It is not yet known when the vehicle will be ready for use.
Also unusual is this modified Tesla, which should soon cover long distances with electricity made of printed plastic:
E-car drives 15,000 kilometers with electricity from printed plastic
What do you think of the strange vehicle? Will it be able to assert itself in its areas of application or is Hyundai’s project too ambitious? Your opinion is in demand.