The EDAG CityBot is an ambitious mobility solution for cities. Created by German design and engineering group EDAG, the 'bot consists of a small electric-powered drive unit that can be hooked up to a variety of trailers, whether conventional…

…or purpose-built for rideshares or cargo:

Alternatively, the drive unit itself could be offered in different configurations for urban maintenance tasks. Outfitted with robotic appendages, the CityBot could be tasked with everything from cleanup to maintenance to streetsweeping.

The company says the flexibility of the platform means that, over a 24-hour period, CityBots could be called on to perform a variety of tasks:

Last year EDAG completed a suite of real-world testing with their Campus FreeCity project, where networked CityBots were run in a "living laboratory" in a stadium complex in Frankfurt. The two-and-a-half-year trial had CityBots transport people, ferry materials, supply kiosks with goods, tackle trash disposal tasks and even water plants in public parks.

Here's their vision of a city filled with CityBots:

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Before that can happen, more testing will be required. EDAG has shrewdly concluded that pitching airports before entire cities would make the most sense: Airports are a centrally-controlled, predictable environment that requires both diverse and repetitive tasks to be executed around the clock. The modular nature of CityBots means they could be called on to move people and luggage, as well as clean runways, maintain the grounds and conduct security patrols in an efficient way.

The company is currently collaborating with different airports and manufacturers of airport-specific vehicles to develop the next set of trials. Here's their vision of how it would work:

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