Hyundai Motor Company has revealed its Plug & Drive (PnD) modular platform, which is designed to enable mobility of traditionally inanimate things, from small objects to large community spaces, at CES 2022.
The PnD modular platform is an all-in-one mobility solution that combines intelligent steering, braking, in-wheel electric drive and suspension hardware.
The single wheel unit uses a steering actuator for infinite wheel rotation, meaning it can turn 360 degrees, which enables holonomic movement, like a figure skater. Furthermore, lidar and camera sensors allow a PnD-enabled object to move autonomously.
According to Hyundai, PnD modules can be attached to anything from tables to containers for expandable mobility. Users can select various drive configurations and platform sizes based on their requirements.
“The PnD Module is adaptive and expandable to match human needs. Because in the world to come, you won’t move your things — they will move around you,”said Dong Jin Hyun, vice president and head of robotics lab at Hyundai Motor Group.
“PnD makes normally inanimate objects mobile. It’s this ability that makes changing practically any space possible. It’s a way to configure spaces on demand.”
According to Hyun, PnD can be useful in office sharing, allowing teams or entire companies to modify and use work space on demand, making the purpose-built space possible. “One can transform an entire business model with PnD modules, or even do away with fixed locations altogether,” said Hyun.
PnD’s driving flexibility also can individualise public transportation to meet very specific, individual needs, such as a personal mobility module that attaches to a mother shuttle for most of its journey but can detach for the last mile to take the occupant directly to their final destination.
At CES 2022, Hyundai Motor exhibited a total of four application concept models using a PnD modular platform, including Personal Mobility, Service Mobility, Logistics Mobility and L7.
The Personal Mobility concept is a platform-based application equipped with four 5.5-inch PnD modules. Measuring 133cm wide by 125cm long by 188.5cm high, the purpose-built vehicle (PBV) provides last-mile mobility for a single passenger.
It is configured to use space efficiently by applying a rotary opening and closing method, and free operation is possible with a smart joystick installed on the right side of the seat without needing a steering wheel or pedal.
The Service Mobility and Logistic Mobility concepts use the same platform, measuring 130cm wide by 110cm long and 180cm high, with storage space that opens and closes like a drawer.
Service Mobility can be used for applications such as transporting customers’ luggage in hotels, and Logistics Mobility can be used for transporting goods from warehouses.
The L7 concept provides extreme mobility with a 12-inch enlarged PnD module. Similar to Personal Mobility, the seat rotates so that the passenger can get on and off easily, and it can be freely operated with a joystick.
