TRUE MOBILITY
(The Case of
Quadrobot)
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By: James Cook
Globatech, Inc.
Dearborn, MI USA
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INTRODUCTION |
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When asked what single event was most helpful in developing the Theory of Relativity,
Albert Einstein replied, "Figuring out how to think about the problem."
Albert Einstein (1879-1955) |
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Modern urban
living is entering a new era where urban residents will be able to get
anything, anywhere, at any time while owning nothing. The thing, the
where, and the time will be resolved virtually, on the spur of the moment,
by the internet, big data, and AI. These residents’ costs will be
according to the momentary usage (use fee). Here in Michigan, the local
automotive economy aptly named their new market, "MOBILITY". However,
Mobility requires, not a restructuring as was the case with small cars,
lean manufacturing, and 6-sigma quality, rather Mobility requires a whole
new way of thinking! Thinking must shift from logical, predictive,
reductionistic to intuitive, probabilistic, holistic. Correspondingly,
the engineering god, Simplicity, is being toppled by Nature’s god,
Complexity. |
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To meet
Mobility’s needs, Quadrobot has developed a vehicle platform that
can be morphed into Mobility’s daily cycle of needs from delivery
(which is Quadrobot’s initial foray) to ride hailing/sharing, and special
purposes such as lunch wagons, retailing/vending on wheels, even street
cleaners. Their proprietary, all-electric, van has two unique features:
a swappable body (analogous to standard shipping containers on a personal scale)
that allows switching to match the rhythm of the day (from commuting to
delivering to lunch wagon ...), and a vehicle that is narrow and low enough to
facilitate easy, quick, urban access and maneuverability. Add to this, all
Quadrobot’s vans are autonomous ready, internet tethered, and transparently
useful as data harvesting vehicles while doing other jobs, as a way to reduce
lease payments and/or generate significant additional income streams. |
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Smart-ness
enabled with internet for tracking and optimization, 75% cargo space
(106 ft3, 3.0 m3), interchangeable and extendable
batteries. |
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Convenient access
single door/side rests on roof, sized to single shift load,
(back door opens out), doors automatically lock, body easily
customizable. |
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Can change chassis/body
configurations for different applications: delivery, ride hailing,
lunch wagon, mobile vending, street cleaning. |
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Custom designed for
cities’ alleys and bicycle paths, symmetrical power train
modules, and four independently controlled wheels. |
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Can change chassis/body
configurations for different applications: delivery, ride hailing,
lunch wagon, mobile vending, street cleaning. |
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The genius
behind Quadrobot’s versatile design is Mike Wang, CEO. As a
graduate of College of Creative Studies, he was a student of John
Manoogian’s (retired GM chief car designer and now on
Quadrobot’s board). Mike grew up in Hangzhou China, the capital of
e-commerce, and came to Detroit, the capital of vehicle design. He used
these two immersions to inspire the design of a vehicle to transform
e-commerce and become a platform for serving urban Mobility. Now in
2019, he’s setting up Quadrobot’s world headquarters in
Greater Detroit while launching Quadrobot’s delivery van for service
in Hangzhou. This year, 2019, the Postal Ministry has committed to using
over one thousand Quadrobots to deliver packages in several major cities,
plus two hundred designated by the government as "A Smart City of the
Future" exemplar. |
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From these beginnings,
Quadrobot will take a leading position in the Mobility marketplace through
proprietary designs, appropriate business models, and creative financing and
partnering. Quadrobot's success, we believe, will ultimately derive from our
superior alignment with the dictates of TRUE MOBILITY!
© 2018,9 James Cook
USA (48120-1167) |
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