[Car Talk Forest] Robotics Gamble by Hyundai Motor Group: Will They Launch a Four-Legged Robotaxi?

[Asia Economy Reporter Suyeon Woo] Recently, Hyundai Motor Group executed a 'big deal' worth 1 trillion won to acquire the global robotics company Boston Dynamics. With the acquisition of a robotics company possessing world-class technology, industry attention is focused on how Boston Dynamics' robot technology will be integrated with Hyundai Motor Group's mass production car development and manufacturing technologies. The industry expects that Hyundai Motor Group will consolidate its currently developing autonomous driving and robotics technologies to create a 'four-legged robot taxi.' This essentially means a walking unmanned mobile robot.

Last year, Hyundai Motor unveiled the 'Elevate' concept car at CES 2019, the world's largest home appliance and IT exhibition. The Elevate is a vehicle that walks by moving four legs equipped with wheels. Upon seeing Boston Dynamics' robot dog 'Spot,' recently acquired by Hyundai Motor Group, the Elevate concept car revealed last year immediately came to mind. The Elevate, which was unveiled at that time, used electric power and was designed with robot legs having five axes, enabling it to mimic various walking styles of mammals or reptiles. Although its walking speed was only about 5 km/h, it could maintain the vehicle's horizontal balance and climb over walls up to 1.5 meters high.

Boston Dynamics' quadruped robot Spot

Hyundai Motor Group Elevate Concept Car

Boston Dynamics' robot dog 'Spot' moves faster and more flexibly. It autonomously avoids obstacles, jumps over them, climbs stairs, and even gets up by itself if it falls. Hyundai Motor Group likely bet a large-scale fund amounting to 1 trillion won to catch up with such advanced technology all at once.

The reason why there is anticipation that a four-legged robot taxi will be launched soon stems from this background. Hyundai Motor Group is expected to first apply four-legged robot technology to rugged mountainous terrain and extreme disaster situations. Afterwards, it is anticipated that development will proceed toward industrial robots, eventually expanding into everyday transportation means.

According to Hyundai Motor Group, the global robotics market has already grown to $44.4 billion (approximately 48 trillion won) this year. It is projected to expand to $177.2 billion (approximately 193 trillion won) by 2025, recording an average annual growth rate of 32%. Among these, the industrial robot market used in factories and construction sites is expected to increase to 630,000 units by next year.

Hyundai Motor Group is accelerating not only in the robotics field but also in autonomous driving technology development. If unmanned autonomous driving technology is integrated into robots, one can imagine a four-legged robot taxi that walks without a driver, rescues people at disaster sites, and when roads are blocked, extends its legs to step over the vehicle ahead.