Hyundai’s TIGER Concept Is A Walking Robot That Tackles Tough Terrains

Hyundai Motor Group has revealed TIGER (Transforming Intelligent Ground Excursion Robot), and it's the company's second Ultimate Mobility Vehicle (UMV) and the first designed to be uncrewed. The transforming intelligent ground excursion robot is designed to carry various types of payload while traveling over challenging terrain.

TIGER is being developed by Hyundai Motor Group's New Horizons Studio, headquartered in Mountain View, California. Based on a modular platform architecture, its features include a sophisticated leg and wheel locomotion system, 360-degree directional control, and a range of sensors for remote observation. It is also intended to connect to unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), which can fully charge and deliver TIGER to inaccessible locations.

Based on a modular platform architecture, its features include a sophisticated leg and wheel locomotion system, 360-degree directional control, and a range of sensors for remote observation.

Thanks to the large load bay housed within its body, the TIGER can carry goods for delivery, or be deployed to deliver aid packages in emergency situations. Leg-wheel articulation enables TIGER to tackle a range of extreme situations while keeping payloads more level than a typical ground vehicle.

Thanks to the large load bay housed within its body, the TIGER can carry goods for delivery

With its legs retracted, TIGER drives like an all-wheel drive vehicle and is in its most efficient mode because it moves by rolling traction. But when the vehicle gets stuck or needs to travel over terrain that is difficult or impassable for wheels alone, it uses its walking ability to get unstuck or more easily travel over that terrain. This was a feature previously seen in Elevate, Hyundai Motor Group's first-ever UMV concept with moveable legs. The difference between Elevate and TIGER is that, while the former can carry passengers, the latter is uncrewed. Both TIGER and Elevate blend robotic and wheeled locomotion technologies, allowing them to traverse terrain beyond the limitations of even the most capable off-road vehicle.

The project is being led by Hyundai Motor Group's New Horizons Studio, while working in close partnership with Autodesk

The first version of TIGER is X-1 (the X stands for experimental) and brings together a wide-range of technological and design expertise. The project is being led by Hyundai Motor Group's New Horizons Studio, while working in close partnership with Autodesk, a leading engineering design software company.