Hyundai global design teams develop 'My Baby' internal project contest ideas

Hyundai has revealed the designs submitted for its 'My Baby' global internal design project.

The project – a biennial contest that started in 2008 – asked the carmaker's design teams to use ‘new thinking' to preview a future without technological or manufacturing limits. Hyundai designers from bases in Korea, the USA, China, Japan, Europe and India were also tasked with reinterpreting and developing the carmaker's ‘Fluidic Sculpture' design language.

This year's theme was ‘Discovery 2050', a sci-fi story set in 2050 where a space probe – consisting of the Future Lab, Airship and Marine – is launched in search of another home for civilization. The brief was to imagine what tools the probe would use in its quest.

A number of designs were chosen to develop into the scale models that were unveiled at this year's Seoul motor show.

Here are the three sections of the space probe:

At the Future Lab, researchers develop high-tech products to help explore the universe while making life easier.

Hyundai Design Japan / Teppei Maezono
Phonika – Human android robot
Phonika, the human android robot, is based on an extended concept of the smartphone and is designed to function as a perfect secretary. Its program can be customized in various ways to meet different needs.

Hyundai Design North America / Roger Flores
UFO – Flying suit 
The UFO is designed to allow people to fly anywhere at any speed outside the limits of gravity. Its body structure is similar to the human spine, serving to cover and protect its wearer.

Hyundai Design Europe / Michel Glenisson
Bio-Rider – Planet cultivating robot
The Bio-Rider cultivates deserted locations on earth or unknown planets. Traveling with trees loaded in its storage bay located on its upper body, the Bio-Rider plants trees by digging a hole in one go with a burst of power, turning a deserted city into a thriving ecosystem.

Hyundai Design North America / Chris Drozdowski
Recon – Reconnaissance robot
The Recon is a two-seater amphibious reconnaissance robot designed to explore the environment of new planets. Its strong structure enables speedy investigation of almost any location, while its head can be separated to perform other duties at the same time.

Hyundai Design Japan / Teppei Maezono (2011)
Noah – Moving city
The Noah is a huge city made in preparation for the destruction of earth. In normal situations, the city is used for research purposes. If the earth is made uninhabitable, however, it will be used to preserve life. The Noah is designed to produce energy from various sources including plants and wind power.

At the Airship section, flying units are on standby to explore space.

Hyundai Design India / Pravin Gaikwad
Trikal – Dragon look-alike transportation
The Trikal resembles a dragon – a common cultural symbol of Asia – and has sensitive skin that senses the will of its driver, and is designed to make controlling it a seamless experience.

Hyundai Design Europe / Eric-Yann Coulouvrat
Jet pack – Lifesaving vest
The easy-to-wear Jetpack is designed to allow the user to come to the rescue of people in danger.

Hyundai Design Korea / Seung Yeol Jun
EC.DY.SIS – Amphibious transportation
The EC.DY.SIS, which utilizes eco-friendly electric energy, is a private mode of transportation in a futuristic marine city. Modeled after the survival system of crustaceans, it is designed so its parts can be replaced separately when damaged.

Hyundai Design Korean / Ahn Jeong Ho
Flash-No-1 – Racing machine
Flash-No-1, which runs on solar energy, is designed to have an ultra-light magnesium streamlined body, enabling it to fly near the ground at maximum speed.

Hyundai Design Korea / Dong Seoung Lee
D2-X – Racing machine
Inspired by the human spine and its protection of the organs, the D2-X's design has a strong yet flexible structure to protect drivers at extreme speeds.

A variety of devices for marine transportation, to explore the deep sea as well as to purify the water, are anchored at the Marine section.

Hyundai Design China / Wang Nifu
Laputa – Flying city
Aimed at recovering nature by relieving population pressures, the Laputa contributes to the harmonious development of earth. Its surface is made of fiber and produces energy by itself through photosynthesis using solar heat.

Hyundai Design Europe / Niels Kasten
MR.H2O – Ocean purifying unit 
The MR.H2O purifies polluted oceans through its symbiotic relationship with tidal current and bacteria.

Hyundai Design North America / Cedric d' Andre
Earth Race 2 – Ekranoplan-type yacht
The Earth Race 2 is an ekranoplan-type yacht powered by wind and the people riding it, and is designed to sail at high speeds.

Hyundai Design Europe / Jochen Werner
HF-1 – Premium Yacht
Recognized by its huge transparent fixed sail, the HF-1 is a premium yacht operated by an energy recycling system and uses solar, water and air energy as well as its big wings.

Hyundai Design Europe / Eric-Yann Coulouvrat
Sea-Prowler – Speed boat
The Sea-Prowler is an eco-friendly futuristic speedboat. Equipped with a strong hydropower turbine, it is designed to offer an ultra-high speed racing experience.

By Rufus Thompson