Hyundai’s MobED is an Autonomous Four-Wheeled Robot Designed for Factories and Beyond

Hyundai has just debuted the MobED, an all-new robot platform on four wheels that is ready to leave the lab and start earning money in the real world. The machine made a big splash at this week’s iREX robotics conference in Tokyo, and it’s based on a concept they presented at CES three years ago.

The robot is propelled by four wheels, but the true secret is how they all function together. Each one can tilt and adjust separately thanks to Hyundai’s ‘eccentric control’ system, which means that even if one side hits a bump or a 10 degree slope, the whole thing stays level. Got a 4 to 8-inch curb to get over? There’s no sweat. Indoors or out, on a smooth floor or tough ol’ gravel, this item stands upright without requiring you to select a version for your specific environment. It’s about 3 feet long and 2 feet wide, with a low profile that allows it to fit under bookcases and through tiny doorways. With cameras and LiDAR scanners working together to identify everything in your path from every angle, you’ve got a machine that maps out rooms in its head and dodges errant boxes or people like it’s nothing.

Hyundai is providing two models: the Pro and the Basic. The Pro is slightly taller at more than 2 feet, weighs 194 pounds empty, and can carry up to 104 pounds of goods. It runs alone, alternating between straight-in-a-line paths and fancy stuff like zig-zagging past crowds. The highest speed is around 6 miles per hour, and it is powered by a battery that lasts 4 hours on a charge and recharges from almost empty to full in less than 3 hours. The Basic is 6 inches shorter and 22 pounds lighter, with a cargo capacity of 126 pounds, but for the time being, you’ll have to rely on remote control, but autonomy can be added later if necessary.

LiDAR scans the surroundings to build a 3D image, whereas cameras detect movement such as people or buggies moving around. The thing’s brain crunches all of the data and figures out a safe path forward, even in situations where one false step grinds the entire area to a halt. Set a destination on the touchscreen controller, and it will travel there, stopping at doorways or elevators along the route. In its ‘Pro’ mode, there’s an option to follow a person hands-free, which is really beneficial for simply tagging along with other activities in a factory. Hyundai has also included several failsafes, such as pulling over if the slope becomes too steep or the battery begins to run low, and sitting tight until someone arrives to assist.

MobED’s modularity allows it to transition from a single tool to a full team of tools, depending on what is required. You may connect these top rails to either 24 or 48 volts and add some wires for synchronizing with the factory systems. Add a fridge for grabbing lunch or a robotic arm for sorting parts, and the device adapts to the work at hand. Hyundai has made it simple to integrate with existing systems, allowing developers to add new voice commands or adjust pathways without starting from scratch. Actually, the Basic model has a lower weight limit, allowing it to handle larger attachments, whilst the Pro model’s smarter bits can perform precision jobs such as guiding drones or scanning things for you.

Battery life is very consistent, at 4 hours per charge on both models, thanks to a 1.47 kilowatt-hour battery that sucks power smoothly even when things become heavy. You might wind up plugging it in every shift in high-traffic areas, but the speedy recharge cycle reduces downtime. And the gadget can withstand operational temperatures ranging from frigid to blistering hot, as long as it stays below 104 degrees to avoid damaging the electronics. Safety certifications cover all bases, including UL requirements for low-voltage gear, CE designations for operating in Europe, and ISO rules for industrial robots, with more expected for the Basic model.

MobED is scheduled to roll out in the first half of 2026, with South Korea leading the way. Pricing has not yet been announced, but you can expect tiers based on model and other features. Early chatter from logistics professionals and the media suggests that interest is considerable, and that shortage-stricken organizations are eager to automate tasks that don’t require their attention every day.