Hyundai Motor and Kia on the 3rd unveiled for the first time the mass-production model of "MobED (Mobile Eccentric Droid)," a next-generation Autonomous Driving mobility robot platform, at the International Robot Exhibition (IREX) 2025.
Held since 1974, IREX is one of the world's three major international robot exhibitions. This year it was held under the theme "a sustainable society through robots," focusing on presenting ways to solve social problems through the coexistence and cooperation of humans and robots.
Hyundai Motor and Kia participated in IREX for the first time and exhibited the real mass-production MobED and combined top-module models developed for use in various industrial environments such as delivery, logistics, and filming.
MobED is Hyundai Motor and Kia's new-concept small mobility platform with an innovative wheel drive system. First introduced as a concept model at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas in 2022, it has been newly reborn as a mass-production model that can be used in various business and everyday environments after about three years of product development.
Hyundai Motor said the biggest feature that sets MobED apart from existing robot platforms is "driving stability that overcomes terrain limits."
MobED is equipped with four independently driven wheels based on the DnL (Drive-and-Lift) module and an eccentric posture control mechanism. Each wheel has three motors that provide power and steering for each wheel and posture control for the body, allowing the body to be adjusted to the desired tilt. This enables it to maintain stable balance on sloped or uneven surfaces and even on curbs up to 20 cm high.
Mounting rails are applied to the top of the platform so various devices can be freely attached, allowing users to easily and conveniently combine modules according to purpose. Separate ports that can operate or control top modules using the battery and controller mounted inside the platform are also applied.
The mass-production MobED is divided into Basic and Pro lineups.
The Basic model is designed for research and development to implement Autonomous Driving robots, allowing research institutes or developers that purchase the robot to use it as an experimental platform by applying their own Autonomous Driving software as needed.
The Pro model is a platform capable of Autonomous Driving. With Autonomous Driving technology using AI-based algorithms and lidar-camera fusion sensors, it recognizes people and obstacles and can drive safely and efficiently in complex and extensive environments such as indoor and outdoor movement, logistics delivery, and filming.
A user-friendly interface that anyone can operate easily is also a feature of MobED. The separate remote controller used to drive MobED is implemented with a 3D graphics-based touch screen, providing an intuitive and convenient user experience, and anyone can operate it easily even with low technical understanding of robots.
MobED is designed to be 74 cm wide and 115 cm long. Its top speed is 10 km/h, and it can run for up to 4 hours on a single charge. Maximum payload is 47–57 kg depending on the lineup.
Hyundai Motor and Kia said they organized the exhibition hall around demonstrations to showcase MobED's diverse scalability. In addition to various terrains such as curbs, ramps, and speed bumps inside the exhibition hall, they created an environment simulating industrial sites and staged MobED completing missions using Autonomous Driving and posture control technology.
They also exhibited top-module combination concept models including ▲MobED Loading ▲MobED Unloading ▲MobED Delivery ▲MobED Golf ▲MobED Broadcasting ▲MobED Urban Hopper.
Hyun Dong-jin, executive director of the Robotics Lab at Hyundai Motor and Kia, said, "MobED is a next-generation mobility solution that goes beyond a simple movement platform to be used across various industries and everyday life," and added, "Through this model unveiling, we will work to set a new standard in the global robot market and bring forward a future where people and robots coexist."
Hyundai Motor and Kia said they plan to sell the mass-production MobED to customers starting in the first half of next year.