Hyundai and Kia are building a robot for Moon exploration
Hyundai and Kia have collaborated with six Korean institutions to develop Moon mobility solutions. The two car companies haven't revealed what kind of robots they're developing for future moon excursions, but the emphasis will be on overcoming the hostile conditions on Earth's sole natural satellite. Hyundai's statement, on the other hand, indicates that the crew will focus on quadruped robots made by Boston Dynamics, which Hyundai now owns. It is worth noting that Hyundai has already deployed Spot, a Boston Dynamic creation for factory monitoring.
Hyundai and Kia's most recent partnership with research institutions has resulted in the formation of a consultative body that will put the plan into action starting in August. According to Hyundai, the main goal is "to define the notion of lunar exploration mobility" and apply those ideas for operations on the moon. The project, which includes both commercial and government participation, will also be used as a test bed for developing more fuel-efficient vehicle solutions on Earth.
With the collaboration, Hyundai is attempting to position itself as a potential partner for developing robotics and mobility solutions for moon and beyond-focused missions in the near future. In an age when space privatization has become a popular topic and even NASA is hiring private firms like as Uber to do things like NASA, Hyundai's ambition doesn't look far fetched.
Other Hyundai concepts
Hyundai and Kia's collaboration is significant, but it isn't the South Korean automaker's first concept related to space exploration. Last month, Hyundai introduced Habitat One, a sustainable housing concept for a carbon-free society in the future. The project includes robots that transform into resting platforms when they detect human motion nearby, a 3D-printed tree that releases oxygen into the environment, and other bio-digital ideas for an ecological habitat.
In February 2021, Hyundai unveiled a concept called Transforming Intelligent Ground Excursion Robot (TIGER) X-1, an unmanned vehicle that may carry loads over challenging terrains. It has a unique leg and wheel locomotion system allowing 360-degree directional control. The non-crewed machine is designed to withstand natural catastrophes, but it can also be used to explore the surface of the moon.
Hyundai is also working on a similar concept called Elevate, which it refers to as "an electric vehicle with robotic legs." Also known as a walking car, it has wheels attached to multi-joint legs that are inspired by grasshoppers and allow it to climb, jump, and elevate above flowing water.
Source: www.slashgear.com
