10th January 2019

"Walking car" could save lives in disaster zones

Hyundai has demonstrated a future concept vehicle that could activate robotic legs to walk at 3 mph (5 km/h) over rough terrain.

Debuting at CES 2019, "Elevate" can help communities in the event of a natural disaster. Wheels featuring robotic legs allow users to drive, walk or even climb over the most treacherous terrain.

As any first responder will tell you, the first 72 hours following a natural disaster are the most crucial to saving lives. However, due to the nature of the disaster (forest fire, earthquake, hurricane or flood), it can often be difficult for search-and-rescue and humanitarian aid missions to reach and deliver immediate help.

The need for efficient, rapid, resilient transportation for disaster assistance is what led Hyundai to develop the first-ever car with moveable legs. Elevate is the first Ultimate Mobility Vehicle (UMV), blending technology found in electric cars and robots, which allows it to traverse terrain beyond the limitations of even the most capable off-road vehicle.

"When a tsunami or earthquake hits, current rescue vehicles can only deliver first responders to the edge of the debris field. They have to go the rest of the way by foot. Elevate can drive to the scene and climb right over flood debris or crumbled concrete," said John Suh, Vice President and Founding Director, Hyundai CRADLE. "This technology goes well beyond emergency situations. People living with disabilities that don't have access to an ADA ramp could hail an autonomous Hyundai Elevate that could walk up to their front door, level itself, and allow their wheelchair to roll right in. The possibilities are limitless."

The Elevate concept is based on a modular EV platform with the capability to switch out different bodies for specific situations. The robotic leg architecture has five degrees of freedom plus wheel hub propulsion motors and is enabled by the latest in electric actuator technology. This design is uniquely capable of both mammalian and reptilian walking gaits, allowing it to move in any direction. The company has developed a 1:8 scale prototype to mimic the final design and to demonstrate all of these capabilities.

The legs can also be folded up into a stowed drive-mode, where power to the joints is cut, and the use of an integrated passive suspension system maximises battery efficiency. This allows Elevate to drive at highway speeds just like any other vehicle. But no other vehicle today can climb a five foot wall, step over a five foot gap, walk over diverse terrain, or achieve a 15 foot track width, all while keeping its body and passengers completely level.

"By combining the power of robotics with Hyundai's latest EV technology, Elevate has the ability to take people where no car has been before, and redefine our perception of vehicular freedom," said David Byron, Design Manager. "Imagine a car stranded in a snow ditch just 10 feet off the highway being able to walk or climb over the treacherous terrain, back to the road, potentially saving its injured passengers – this is the future of vehicular mobility."

---

• Follow us on Twitter

• Follow us on Facebook

• Subscribe to us on YouTube

Comments »