Autodesk is working with Hyundai to help turn its Dream “Elevate” all-terrain vehicle into a reality through the use of advanced Generative Design technologies. Hyundai’s New Horizons Studio believes that the combination of driven wheels and powered legs will result in ground vehicles with extraordinary locomotion capabilities.

The Hyundai Elevate ultimate mobility vehicle (UMV) concept’s sure-footed ability to navigate irregular ground provides the versatility required during rescue situations, such as after an earthquake. The unique mobility solution–something that drives and walks–presents immensely difficult design and engineering challenges. One of the most familiar amongst these is a never-ending quest in the transportation industry: create components that are lighter, but stronger, than past generations of similar components.

Designers and engineers tasked with these “lightweighting” challenges often look to futuristic materials such as metallic foams, carbon fiber and new metal alloys, along with modern design techniques such as generative design, for solutions. These are areas where Autodesk’s tools and expertise excel, so Hyundai turned to Autodesk for input.

Hyundai’s New Horizons Studio considers that the combination of driven wheels and powered legs will result in ground vehicles with unprecedented locomotion capabilities. The studio results to contribute to Hyundai Motor Group’s core automotive business as it seeks to grow into new markets that enhance transportation on and off the road. Accordingly, being guided by an executive with a robust imagination, informed by the megahitrobots-that-become-cars toys of the ‘80s, is probably a strategic advantage.

Elevate has the ability to transform from a four-wheeled, car-like vehicle into a four-legged, reptilian walking machine, giving it the ability to traverse terrain that’s distant to even the most capable off-road vehicles. When originally launched, it was heralded for its ability to climb walls, cross diverse terrains and approach limits, all while keeping its body and passengers completely level.

In the case of the Elevate concept vehicle, high-torque electric motors are at each joint of the “legs.” This requires structural components be strong and rigid .But vehicle handling and payload requirements demand and in-motor driven wheels, which are the “feet” of the vehicle, be lightweight. To achieve these and other goals, particularly with the international presence of Hyundai, a design and engineering toolset that makes it easy to share across teams, companies and continents is mandatory.

Elevate exists only as a 5:1 scale prototype at this point, so it remains to be seen what’ll come of this fascinating and futuristic Hyundai project. However, wrapped in its Transformer-inspired trappings are examples of the potential benefits offered today by a platform that breaks down barriers between design, engineering and manufacturing; makes broad collaboration seamless by standardizing data; and gives teams access to a state-of-the-art, cloud-powered new process like generative design.