This Delivery Bot Conquers Stairs with Its Pliable Wheels

One of the easiest shots to take at the delivery bots some of us see trundling around techy cities is that they can’t climb stairs, curbs, or any other minor obstacle that even a slug could handle. Mobinn, a new spinoff from Hyundai, has seemingly solved this using a set of flexible wheels that can take it up stairs with ease. They showed off their delivery bot at CES 2024 in Las Vegas. Stairs and curbs are the bane of many a delivery bot, and generally the solution has been to avoid them. Mobinn’s pitch deck also shows that they are working on wheelchair and other mobility options, but so far it seems the delivery bot is the first out the door.

Stairs and curbs may be the bane of many delivery bots, but one company has found a solution.

One of the easiest shots to take at the delivery bots some of us see trundling around techy cities is that they can’t climb stairs, curbs, or any other minor obstacle that even a slug could handle.

Mobinn, a new spinoff from Hyundai, debuted their solution at CES 2024 in Las Vegas – wheels that can conquer any staircase with ease.

Traditionally, delivery bots have avoided these obstacles, opting for bike lanes and curb cuts. But as CEO Choi Jin explains, “that’s a problem when you’re delivering to the huge proportion of people who live up at least one step from the street.”

So, they invented a whole new stair-climbing robot.

Either you can tell them to come down and grab their burrito from the sidewalk, or… invent a whole new stair-climbing robot.

The engineers behind Mobinn have created a partially autonomous robot with a variety of sensors to navigate stairs and curbs.

When asked about the robot’s endurance, Jin shared that it can run for 8 hours while continuously climbing steps – an impressive feat.

But considering how exhausting it can be for humans to climb stairs, it’s only natural to wonder if the robot experiences the same fatigue. According to Jin, the robot is equipped with flexible wheels and an articulating frame on the interior side to prevent any damage.

Surprisingly, the robot is powered by only four motors, one for each wheel, and does not rely on complicated differential setups. Of course, it also includes a tilting bed to ensure the payload stays level during the journey.

The front of the robot features a pair of doors for easy access to the food or package being delivered. And while it may not provide the smoothest ride, it gets the job done.

Jin revealed that the robot is currently being tested on the streets of Korea, but Mobinn is still a young company with plenty of potential for growth. In fact, their pitch deck shows that they are also developing wheelchair and mobility options – but for now, their delivery bot is the main focus.