Hyundai Motor Group continues its support for the treatment and rehabilitation of firefighters who ensure public safety at disaster sites.
On August 11, Hyundai Motor Group announced that it donated vehicles and rehabilitation equipment for firefighters during the opening ceremony of the National Fire Hospital in Eumseong, North Chungcheong Province.
The donated items include two Hyundai ST1-based ambulances, three rehabilitation robots including the medical wearable robot 'X-ble MEX,' one cardiopulmonary rehabilitation exercise testing device, one hyperbaric oxygen therapy device, and two mental health treatment devices.
The ST1-based ambulances are designed to provide ample emergency care space and accommodate various medical equipment. They feature a walkthrough structure that allows movement between the driver's seat and the patient area, enhancing the mobility and convenience for medical staff.
The X-ble MEX is a medical wearable robot developed by Hyundai and Kia's Robotics Lab. It assists patients with lower limb paralysis and disabilities in walking, supporting rehabilitation therapy and gait training. The robot aids in five movements: walking, standing, sitting, climbing stairs, and turning.
The length of the robot can be adjusted according to the user's physical condition, and it can be worn while seated. The National Fire Hospital plans to operate a dedicated robotic rehabilitation room centered around the X-ble MEX.
Additionally, Hyundai Motor Group provided a hyperbaric oxygen therapy device for treating burns that may occur during firefighting and mental health treatment devices to support the psychological recovery of firefighters.
Hyundai Motor Group is committed to expanding its support for the safety and recovery of firefighters. Since 2023, it has donated ten 'Firefighter Recovery Support Vehicles' to fire departments nationwide to assist firefighters during their rest periods.
In 2024, the company developed the 'EV Drill Lance,' a firefighting device that sprays water by puncturing electric vehicle battery packs, and delivered 250 units to the National Fire Agency. This year, it donated four 'unmanned firefighting robots,' developed in collaboration with the National Fire Agency.
Seong Kim, head of strategic planning at Hyundai Motor Group, stated, "We hope that the vehicles and rehabilitation equipment reflecting Hyundai Motor Group's technology will aid in the recovery and treatment of injured firefighters. We will continue to support firefighters so they can perform their duties in a safer environment."
Earlier this year, Hyundai Motor Group deployed unmanned firefighting robots at the site of a factory fire in Eumseong, marking their first operational use. These robots enter high-heat and smoke environments that are difficult for humans to access, assisting in firefighting and assessing the situation.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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