Anyone who has ridden an electric bike knows how convenient it is. Although the battery range might be a bit limited, it covers a much larger distance than other forms of transportation. Basically, if you can fit through, your bike can fit through. There are even foldable versions that you can carry with you in a car, addressing the limited battery range issue.
However, even with the convenience of electric bikes, there’s one terrain they can’t cover – stairs.
Unless you’re an acrobat, you’re likely limited to flat surfaces. That limitation led the Japanese car manufacturer Suzuki to design a transportation device named MOQBA, which falls somewhere between an electric bike and a robot. It has four legs, can transport various goods, and yes, it can carry people too.
MOQBA’s design resembles a common pet dog, with four leg-like columns and a central body with a seat and a smart display screen.
The vehicle is made up of multiple structures, allowing for modular design. Its four legs can move independently, simulating crawling and climbing actions, which enables MOQBA to climb stairs. Its limbs can compress or bend, and they have elasticity, providing excellent adaptability for climbing stairs, overcoming obstacles, or navigating speed bumps.
According to the information available, MOQBA has three riding modes. The first is the “Chair Mode,” similar to our regular electric bikes, where it functions as a seated vehicle. The second is the “Standing Mode,” which hasn’t been further explained by the official sources, but presumably refers to a mode where the vehicle is operated while standing. The third mode is the stretcher mode, used for emergencies and medical situations. In this mode, the seat is replaced with a stretcher, allowing the transportation of patients.
Its modular design opens up various use cases, such as serving as a shopping cart or transforming into a mobile wheelchair. Users can choose according to their needs.
So far, Suzuki’s four-legged vehicle remains a concept, but the company is committed to turning it into a real, practical mode of transportation.
A similar design can also be seen in Hyundai’s concept vehicle, Elevate, which is even more daring, attaching four legs directly to the car. It can navigate snow, forests, mountains, and even climb large rocks while keeping the passenger cabin stable. It’s amazing to see how advanced people’s imagination can be.
While these designs are still concepts, they represent meaningful exploration and innovation in the future of transportation. They allow us to catch a glimpse of future mobility, even in the current stage where technology isn’t fully matured.
