[K-Industry, Architects of the Future] E-Corner System Realized with Proprietary Technology... Revolutionizing Future Mobility

(12) Geonwoo Kim, Principal Researcher, Smart Mobility Research Team, Hyundai Mobis

Integrating Driving, Braking, Steering, and Suspension into a Single Wheel... Development of the 'e-Corner System'

Maximizing Space Efficiency and Maneuverability with Proprietary Technology

"When Consumers Feel More Comfortable and Safer Driving, That's the True Reward for an Engineer"

Editor's NoteThe landscape of the Korean industry is rapidly changing. Even amidst the tumultuous waves of the global market, there are next-generation researchers and engineers who silently design the future. They are the lifeblood of the Korean economy and, truly, will be the main driving force in feeding tomorrow’s Korea. The Asia Business Daily is launching a new interview series titled 'K-Industries, Architects of the Future' to spotlight their innovative worlds of technology and future visions. The twelfth featured guest is Geonwoo Kim, Principal Researcher of the Smart Mobility Team at Hyundai Mobis, who is leading the development of the e-Corner System that will revolutionize both vehicle spaces and mobility in the future mobility environment.

"I believe the aim of any engineer is to quickly integrate new features into vehicles, so that consumers can enjoy a more comfortable and safer driving experience."

Geonwoo Kim, Principal Researcher of the Smart Mobility Research Team at Hyundai Mobis. Hyundai Mobis

Geonwoo Kim, Principal Researcher of the Smart Mobility Research Team at Hyundai Mobis, shared these thoughts while discussing the 'e-Corner System' currently under development during an interview with The Asia Business Daily at Hyundai Mobis Mabuk Research Center on the 27th. While it is certainly gratifying to see the technologies developed by him and his team implemented in mass-produced vehicles, Kim says the most rewarding moments are when many consumers experience tangible benefits from these advancements. We spoke to Researcher Kim, who has been involved with the e-Corner System from its inception, about the innovations this technology will bring to future mobility.

The e-Corner System is a next-generation mobility platform technology that integrates driving, steering, braking, and suspension functions inside each wheel. This allows for independent control of each wheel, enabling new driving maneuvers that are difficult to achieve with conventional vehicles—such as crab driving and on-the-spot rotation. Hyundai Mobis began developing the e-Corner System at the beginning of 2021 and unveiled a demonstration vehicle equipped with this technology, called the ‘Mobion,’ at CES in January 2024. The vehicle drew significant attention at the typically static CES exhibition by showcasing its ability to move wheels vertically and perform stationary turns.

e-Corner system module installed in Hyundai Mobis Mobion. Hyundai Mobis

Kim stated, "The main reason we began developing the e-Corner System was to respond to the changing landscape of future mobility," adding, "The era of electrification and autonomous vehicles will require freer and more efficient movement. Especially in urban areas, as demand grows for solutions to parking shortages, increasingly complex traffic, and improved vehicle utility, there is an urgent need to completely rethink vehicle maneuverability."

He further explained, “While conventional vehicles control wheels through a centralized drivetrain and mechanical steering system, the e-Corner System empowers each wheel to drive and steer independently. This dramatically enhances both space utilization and maneuverability, making it possible to easily operate vehicles in narrow alleys or urban parking settings. Looking ahead, I believe this technology will serve as an optimized platform for future mobility such as purpose-built vehicles (PBVs), robotaxis, and autonomous shuttles.”

As a revolutionary concept designed to greatly improve spatial utility and maneuverability, the e-Corner System posed significant challenges during development. Kim detailed, “Since we had to fundamentally rethink how vehicles move, even the initial phase of defining the concept was a major challenge. We also had to integrate numerous components and systems within tight spatial constraints, while still ensuring performance, functionality, and safety—making the design exceptionally complex.”

Kim Gunwoo, Senior Researcher, is being interviewed by The Asia Business Daily on the 27th at Hyundai Mobis Mabuk Research Center. Hyundai Mobis

In addition, the e-Corner System demands far more complex control algorithms than conventional vehicles; if errors occur, it can undermine vehicle stability or accelerate tire wear. Kim emphasized that they overcame this by independently developing both integrated wheel-level control logic and vehicle behavior control technologies in-house.

Hyundai Mobis completed the e-Corner System through interdepartmental collaboration and independent logic development, leveraging its proprietary expertise in steering, driving, braking, and suspension. This internalization of technology proved to be a competitive advantage over global rivals that rely on purchasing external devices.

At the Mabuk Research Center, the e-Corner System was demonstrated to diagonally move the vehicle with no body movement by independently controlling each wheel, and achieved U-turns with a halved turning radius. The system also rotated the wheels vertically to park smoothly in tight spaces, showing no sense of incongruity.

e-Corner System Demonstration Video. Hyundai Mobis

While mass production plans have not yet been confirmed, work continues to optimize and ensure the safety of the system. Kim commented, “The e-Corner System is more than just an added feature—it will fundamentally change both vehicle structure and the way we move.”

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.