Hyundai Motor's SEVEN concept vehicle / Courtesy of Hyundai Motor

By Kim Jae-heun

Hyundai Motor Group said Wednesday that its SEVEN and Trailer Drone concept vehicles were recognized at the 2022 Good Design Awards in the transportation category, while its Plug & Drive (PnD) Mobility robotic module, PnD L7 and Mobile Eccentric Droid (MobED) robot have won awards in the robotics category.

"Hyundai Design strives to forge strong connections between our customers and our mobility solutions," Executive Vice President and Head of Hyundai Global Design Center Lee Sang-yup Lee said.

"The awards recognize how we add more value to our customers' everyday lives within and beyond the automotive space. Our design dream team and engineers put their passion and heart into these projects to make our dreams closer to reality," Lee added.

Following the 45 concept EV in 2019 and the Prophecy concept EV in 2020, the SEVEN electric SUV concept vehicle opened a new chapter for the IONIQ electric-only model when it was unveiled in 2021.

It is also the perfect example of the IONIQ's space innovations and hygienic features transforming the sport utility vehicle into an innovative living space on wheels, demonstrating Hyundai's prioritization of customer values over industry norms.

Hyundai Motor's Trailer Drone concept vehicle / Courtesy of Hyundai Motor

The Trailer Drone concept vehicle is a hydrogen-powered container transportation system capable of operating fully autonomously with a double e-Bogie configuration, allowing for unprecedented maneuverability through sideways movement in an almost train-like arrangement.

Hyundai Motor was also recognized for its excellence in design in the robotics sector by winning three awards in the robotics category.

Emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI) and autonomous driving erase the boundaries between automobiles and robots.

PnD (Plug & Drive) Mobility was developed under the motto, "Expanding Human Reach," to realize the vision of limitless freedom in mobility. The PnD robotic module combines intelligent steering, braking, an in-wheel electric drive and suspension hardware that can be scaled up or down, for any purpose, size or application.

PnD L7 is also a groundbreaking future robotics-based mobility solution. It sets itself apart from other ground-based vehicles, featuring more intuitive operations using a joystick and a smoother, freer and more efficient driving experience.

MobED is a novel, compact mobile platform that consists of four Drive & Lift (DnL) modules, which combine driving, steering, posture control and braking systems into a single structure. MobED's minimalistic design emphasizes its unique mechanism. Pixel lighting on all sides of its body communicates to users MobED's function state, including its driving direction.