"Helping Mobility-Impaired"… Hyundai Motor and Kia Join Public-Private Partnership to Demonstrate 'Autonomous Wheelchair'

Hyundai Motor Group Creative Talent Platform Zero One's Technology and Development
Form Mounted on Manual Wheelchair with Autonomous Driving System and Drive Device
Seoul Museum of Art and Bundang Seoul National University Hospital Provide Test Operation Sites and Plan Demonstration Programs

[Asia Economy Reporter Ki-min Lee] Hyundai Motor Company and Kia are collaborating with the Seoul Museum of Art and Bundang Seoul National University Hospital to enhance mobility convenience for people with limited mobility.

On the 27th, Hyundai Motor Company, Kia, the Seoul Museum of Art, and Bundang Seoul National University Hospital signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) at Hyundai Motor Group's creative talent platform 'ZER01NE' located in Seocho-gu, Seoul, to develop and demonstrate autonomous wheelchairs and agreed to cooperate.

ZER01NE is a creative talent platform opened by Hyundai Motor Group in 2018 to create a human-centered future society together with various creative talents. It conducts innovative projects with external creative talents, ranging from individual creators to startups, as well as internal employees, focusing on topics related to Hyundai Motor Group’s future new businesses and future society.

The autonomous wheelchair project began last year when Wizjin, a startup and ZER01NE creator, proposed solving the problem of poor portability of existing electric wheelchairs by equipping autonomous driving functions to provide more convenient and free mobility for people with limited mobility.

The autonomous wheelchair under development by ZER01NE is a form where an autonomous driving system equipped with LiDAR, cameras, and ultrasonic sensors, along with an in-wheel system that integrates all devices necessary for driving into the wheels, is installed on a manual wheelchair. This system has the advantage of being implementable using a standard manual wheelchair.

Through this collaboration, Hyundai Motor Company, Kia, the Seoul Museum of Art, and Bundang Seoul National University Hospital will demonstrate the autonomous wheelchair and explore ways to improve mobility convenience for people with limited mobility.

The Seoul Museum of Art and Bundang Seoul National University Hospital will provide locations for the trial operation of the autonomous wheelchair in representative public places such as museums and hospitals, while also supporting the planning of demonstration programs. Hyundai Motor Company and Kia will comprehensively review the utility, technical appropriateness, and areas for improvement of the autonomous wheelchair through this collaboration and support the incorporation of improvements into ZER01NE’s future technology development process.

In particular, Kia plans to offer a mobility service combining Carnival vehicles modified for people with disabilities through its specialized social contribution project for the disabled, 'Chorok Travel,' with autonomous wheelchairs. Within this year, it will jointly plan with the Seoul Museum of Art to operate specialized programs that help people with disabilities and those with limited mobility to more conveniently view exhibitions at the museum.

Director Ji-sook Baek said, "As a new collaboration model, we will strive to become a Seoul-type network museum welcomed by everyone, regardless of disability." Director Rong-min Baek of Bundang Seoul National University Hospital also stated, "We expect that this MOU signing will strengthen research and technological development capabilities necessary for operating autonomous wheelchairs."

Director Dong-soo Shin said, "We expect to improve the inconveniences that have been constraints for people with limited mobility together with various partners," adding, "We will strive to provide mobility solutions that allow everyone to move safely and freely."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.