LG’s Omnipod self-driving concept is actually an entire world on wheels

LG'south Omnipod self-driving concept is actually an unabridged world on wheels

LG omnipod concept car on white background

(Epitome credit: LG)

LG has never been a visitor to resist innovation. Whether through its rollable phones, market-leading TVs or indoor gardening fridges, the South Korean giant has often led from the front when it comes to developing consumer tech that'due south... out in that location.

That philosophy showed no signs of slowing at CES 2022, as LG lifted the lid on one of its most curious concepts still – an democratic domicile on wheels.

The aptly-named LG Omnipod is, co-ordinate to the company, a "mobility concept solution that blurs the stardom between home and machine," and a rather dramatic expansion on LG's Connected Car vision (which itself was unveiled at CES 2022).

The concept vehicle took eye stage at LG's CES 2022 press briefing - where CEO William (Joo Wan) Cho of LG Electronics entered his virtual printing briefing in a (nosotros suspect) mock-up version of the car.

Meliorate thought of as a miniaturized private jet cabin, the LG Omnipod is intended to be an "on-the-road extension of ane's personal living infinite," boasting in-vehicle appliances like fridges and retractable furniture alongside a sprawling "Meta Environment" display system – which we tin but presume to mean a gear up of adaptive interior screens mimicking an outside surroundings of the occupant'southward choice.

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LG Omnipod interior — (Image credit: LG)

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LG Omnipod exterior — (Image credit: LG)

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So (of course?) there'south the AI Concierge Service, which LG envisions volition see virtual humans (read: avatars) waiting on the whims of those inside the cabin (we're thinking light, temperature, dissonance and speed aid, here).

Having said that, the carte screen visible in the image above suggests these AI companions will also be able to society food to your Omnipod, and so nosotros're sure they'll exist capable of plenty more functions that nosotros tin can't quite imagine only notwithstanding (maybe they can whip upward the chicken teriyaki themselves, or ho-hum down enough to allow a delivery driver throw a meal through the window?).

The Omnipod was presented in the press conference in the form of a mobile office during the day, that could turn into cinema to relax, and and so – inexplicably – transform again into a place where a clothes rises out of the side pod, allowing y'all to go and make a music video with Reah, the 'virtual influencer' LG has created.

Following that, the Omnipod was shown taking its occupants to a army camp, whereupon it was folded effectually a fire... at this point, nosotros got a little lost equally to what was happening.

This is the futurity as imagined by LG, people.

Further details about the LG Omnipod are, as you'd look, thin on the footing at this stage. The mobility concept remains just that, and it's unlikely we'll go a more comprehensive expect at the brand's chrome-encased vision of the future for some time (if always).

The nearly comparable project nosotros've seen elsewhere is Heatherwick Studios' Airo – a similarly-democratic cabin currently in development for nascent Chinese EV manufacturer IM Motors – which is set to enter production in 2023.

LG'south Omnipod appears to accept leapfrogged a few crucial steps, mind – we tin't help but feel as though the virtual butler is a prime example of running earlier you can walk – but it'south pleasing to encounter a consumer tech heavyweight like LG giant engaging with an automotive industry set to modify dramatically in more than ways than 1 in the coming years.

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Axel is a London-based Staff Writer at TechRadar, reporting on everything from the latest Tesla models to newest movies every bit function of the site's daily news output. Having previously written for publications including Esquire and FourFourTwo, Axel is well-versed in the applications of technology beyond the desktop, and a degree in English language Literature ways he can occasionally exist spotted slipping Hemingway quotes into stories nigh electrical sports cars.