Hyundai partners with TUM and Healthy Seas to Bring Environmental Education to Life with a Mobile Robotics Lab
- Hyundai Motor Europe is partnering with the Technical University of Munich and The Healthy Seas Foundation for a hands-on demonstration of the benefits of robotics in marine conservation
- In a practical workshop, students can see first-hand how the SVan enables field work and learn about clean-up efforts and environmental protection
- The event comes as part of a series of projects that Hyundai Motor Europe has successfully implemented with Healthy Seas to aid in sustainability efforts across Europe
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Hyundai Motor Europe, in collaboration with the Technical University of Munich (TUM) and The Healthy Seas Foundation, is hosting an educational event aimed at inspiring the next generation of environmental innovators. This initiative underscores Hyundai’s commitment to sustainability, innovation, and education, aligning with its vision of Progress for Humanity and creating a better future for all.
Hyundai’s role in developing cutting-edge technologies, such as the SVan (a mobile environmental lab built inside a Hyundai STARIA van) and the IONIQ reforestation drone stations, demonstrates its dedication to environmental protection and improving quality of life. These innovations are possible through the power of collaboration with academic institutions and conservation experts, that allow Hyundai to bring its broader robotics and mobility vision to real-world scenarios, making a tangible impact on global challenges.
Partnerships for Progress
Hyundai partners with leaders in technology and environmental protection, such as the Munich Institute of Robotics and Machine Intelligence (MIRMI) which is part of TUM and The Healthy Seas Foundation, to drive meaningful change. Mobility is the common thread, enabling these partnerships to achieve their missions. The latest event at the Hollerner Lake in Bavaria exemplifies this collaboration, bringing together students, experts, and Hyundai’s innovative technologies in a hands-on, real-life scenario. A total number of 30 students from the Therese-Giehse-Realschule in Munich participated.
Event Highlights
The event agenda includes interactive workshops and fieldwork, allowing students to engage directly with the Hyundai’s SVan and the environmental robots developed by the Munich Institute of Robotics and Machine Intelligence (MIRMI). This immersive experience emphasizes the importance of education in raising awareness and inspiring young minds to pursue careers in innovative and sustainable fields.
The students had only known household robots before, so it was very exciting for them to control TUM’s advanced robots. They also found it very pleasant to be outside in the fresh air, it really did them good.
How the SVan Aids in Environmental Protection
The SVan prototype represents a breakthrough in environmental robotics, serving as a mobile hub for deploying a heterogeneous team of robots across air, land, and water. Central to SVan’s innovation is the Collaborative Robot Interface for Telepresence (Co-RIFT), a democratized telepresence system that allows users to remotely operate and monitor robots from any location with ease.
Equipped with advanced infrastructure, SVan integrates mobile internet connectivity, a WiFi mesh network, robust energy supply, and edge computing capabilities. This technical foundation enables artificial intelligence to run directly on the SVan, expanding the operational scope of the robot team. For example, SVan’s onboard AI can detect garbage from the air, coordinating with land-based robots to collect identified waste.
The SVan project, developed in collaboration with the MIRMI, showcases Hyundai’s commitment to democratizing environmental robotics. Through its specialized robots, the SVan empowers both experts and novices to actively participate in conservation work. This initiative highlights the potential of robotics to make high-tech environmental protection accessible to all.
Our partnership with Hyundai has enabled advancements in robotics and environmental protection. The SVan is a testament to what can be achieved when academia and industry collaborate.
Environmental educational activities across Europe
Supporting next generation educational activities like this event are crucial for raising awareness and inspiring students to take action. With Hyundai’s support, Healthy Seas organizes similar initiatives across Europe, fostering a sense of responsibility and innovation among young people.
As part of these wider educational efforts, Healthy Seas is engaging in workshops with students in Germany, the UK, Italy, Spain, France and the Netherlands. By introducing students to real-world case studies of pollution from aquaculture and innovative approaches to waste management, the programs aim to inspire future professionals to develop sustainable solutions and drive systemic change in marine industries. The event in Munich is another step in Hyundai’s journey toward a sustainable future, demonstrating the transformative potential of partnerships, innovation, and education.
When concluding the educational event at the Hollerner Lake, one student asked me, ‘Can robots really save the oceans?’ My answer was, ‘With your help, they can!’ It’s moments like these that show the power of education and collaboration.
More information about Hyundai’s respective partnerships with Healthy Seas and the SVan Project can be found at the Hyundai Motor Europe Newsroom.
Contacts
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Wolfgang Würth
Director PR & Communications
wwuerth@hyundai-europe.comAdriana Cerami
Head of Corporate & Brand PR
acerami@hyundai-europe.comElvira Vella-Herrera
Executive & Internal Communications Senior Expert
eherrera@hyundai-europe.comMaria Bricio
Corporate & Brand Communications Expert
mbricio@hyundai-europe.comPatricia Lammers
Corporate Communications Expert
patricia.lammers@hyundai-europe.comConor Twomey
Head of Product PR
conor.twomey@hyundai-europe.comAdrian Péré
Product PR Manager
apere@hyundai-europe.comKatharina Kupper
Hyundai Newsroom Lead
