AWARD YEAR
2019
CATEGORY
Community
GOALS
Industry, Innovation & Infrastructure
KEYWORDS
car, natural disasters, Innovation
COUNTRY
Republic of Korea
DESIGNED BY
Hyundai
WEBSITE
https://www.dezeen.com/2019/01/08/walking-car-concept-hyundai-elevate/
Hyundai Elevate
A vehicle with robotic legs that could save lives as a first responder in natural disaster zones.
The concept is designed to help emergency workers travel across harsh terrain in the event of a natural disaster. "Any first responder will tell you that the first 72 hours following a natural disaster are the most crucial to saving lives," said the creators. "However, often times due to the nature of the disaster (forest fire, earthquake, hurricane, or flood), it can be difficult for search-and-rescue and humanitarian aid missions to reach and get immediate help to those in need." Hyundai developed the concept to be faster, more efficient and resilient than ordinary off-road vehicles. The resulting design is based around a modular electric vehicle chassis architecture, which features interchangeable bodies that can be swapped depending on the situation and environment. Four robotic legs that extend from the body give the vehicle the option of driving, walking or climbing in any direction across different landscapes, helped by torsional control at the end of each leg.