Hyundai Motor Group Robotics LAB has been working on wheeled autonomous robots for some years now, with a gradual development timeline. They revealed the vision of a metamobility bot at CES 2022, which would be better than Boston Dynamics’ Spot the dog robot. The idea was just in the concept stage at the time, and coming from the South Korean giant, we knew it would be substantial when it finally arrived.
Finally, they’ve revealed the Mobile Eccentric Droid, a.k.a. MobED, a mobility robot platform tailored for a diverse range of industrial and everyday-use applications. The bot was shown off at the International Robot Exhibition 2025 (iREX 2025) in Tokyo. According to Dong Jin Hyun, Vice President and Head of Hyundai Motor Group Robotics LAB, the new robot will help “accelerate a future where humans and robots coexist.” The most exciting bit, it’ll be up for sale in the first half of 2026.
Designer: Hyundai
MobED thrives on three main pillars, which refresh our approach towards robotics. These are the Adaptive Mobility (hardware), Intuitive Autonomy (software), and Infinite Journey (applications). This makes the production-ready autonomous bot poised to reboot how robots move, navigate, and ultimately perform tasks in any setup, be it in an industrial location, unknown outdoor terrain, or narrow corridors of your home. Thereby making it perfect for a range of tasks, right from delivering your groceries and carrying gear up a mountain to acting as a golf caddy and being used for creative movie direction.
The wheeled workhorse is equipped with Hyundai’s drive-and-life (DnL) modules, which integrate steering, driving, and height adjustment into one portable unit. TI is integrated with adaptive motion technology, which eliminates any constraints that are environment-specific. All these innovations result in precise posture control to adapt to different terrains, performing difficult tasks in any kind of environment, and that too while carrying a heavy load. The modular nature of the platform makes it ultra-versatile and well worth investing in, compared to other robotics solutions that can do only a limited number of tasks owing to their form factor.
For starters, MobED will be offered in two versions: one will be a basic model that has the mobility capabilities of a current-generation bot, while the other comes with full AI autonomy and advanced navigation sensors. The latter is a pro version, and it is equipped with full AI autonomy, upgraded sensors, LiDAR, and a camera system. You’ll get a follow-me mode, so that the bot stays by your side when you are busy doing multiple tasks. Riding on four wheels doesn’t mean it is an autonomous vehicle of sorts, as it can swivel and articulate the wheels. Just like a four-legged personal bot, it can wave by cogging up its wheel. Fit on top a robotic arm, and the bot functions as warehouse personnel.
The robot is as easy to control as an RC car, since it’s equipped with a touchscreen controller. Hyundai’s robotic division has been quite serious about the future of its rolling droid development that’s been going on for quite a few years now, and the MobED Pro is now poised to change the dynamics of the robotics landscape in the near future.
