Hyundai is back with , but won’t sell you a car. This creation wants to go to space, and I’m a little confused about what prompted the urge.

Well, extraterrestrial surface exploration is just one proposed function the robocar could perform, along with other logistical applications that Hyundai proposes for the little bot. Hyundai has seemingly upped its involvement into robotics lately with DAL-e and now this new robot, TIGER, but it has had a growing interest in robotics for now. And recall that Hyundai Boston Dynamics not too long ago.

Hyundai’s New Horizons Studio developed this robocar jointly with Autodesk, and Hyundai’s vice president, John Suh, gives all the details in the following video:

Hyundai’s name for the robocar, TIGER, stands for “Transforming Intelligent Ground Excursion Robot” and the carmaker classifies this as an (UMV). Hyundai reminds us that this is the second of these vehicles produced, the first UMV being the nightmarish concept. Woof.

But TIGER is an exploration vehicle rather than a passenger car, and Hyundai describes it as follows:

TIGER’s exceptional capabilities are designed to function as a mobile scientific exploration platform in extreme, remote locations. Based on a modular platform architecture, its features include a sophisticated leg and wheel locomotion system, 360-degree directional control, and a range of sensors for remote observation.

TIGER’s official announcement from the South Korean carmaker is talking up its humanitarian applications like delivering aid packages during emergencies or in areas that have been affected by natural disasters.

The cynic in me wants to say that TIGER has a lucrative future in defense contracts, and that wouldn’t be completely off-base. Hyundai’s subsidiary, , has current related to the development of AVs. And Boston Dynamics was a before Google bought it. Maybe Hyundai sees some defense application here like with that of its , though I can’t imagine TIGER being a boss as easily as Hyundai Rotem’s cybertank:

For now, I’ll give Hyundai the benefit of the doubt and say that maybe it just wanted Boston Dynamics because its Spot robot could advance Hyundai’s UMV development. TIGER even looks a little bit like a BD Spot robot wearing wheels.

Maybe TIGER really does just want to go to space and collect moon rocks, or now, maybe rocks.