HD Hyundai tests physical AI for autonomous shipyard operations
HD Hyundai is taking a significant step towards incorporating physical artificial intelligence (AI) into its shipyard operations. The company recently showcased a new demonstration at HD Hyundai Samho’s shipyard in Yeongam, South Jeolla Province. This demonstration combines the power of 5G technology and GPU-based AI computing to facilitate autonomous welding and painting processes.
South Korea’s Ministry of Science and ICT Initiative
The demonstration at HD Hyundai Samho’s shipyard is being led by KT and is a part of South Korea’s Ministry of Science and ICT initiative to enhance high-performance AI network infrastructure. This innovative approach involves utilizing 5G standalone (SA), network slicing, AI-RAN, and autonomous network technologies. By leveraging these technologies, robots can process video and sensor data in real-time, enabling them to operate with increased autonomy.
Benefits of the Project
The primary objective of this project is to establish a high-performance AI network within welding and painting facilities. The project will also involve testing two types of industrial robots. By bringing computing resources closer to the robots through the communication network, the system aims to overcome limitations related to onboard computing capacity and reduce latency associated with data transmission to distant cloud infrastructure.
Additionally, the initiative aims to automate existing semi-automatic welding and painting processes, with a focus on enhancing productivity and safety standards. Another consortium led by SK Telecom is also conducting physical AI demonstrations involving autonomous patrol and transport at SK Incheon Petrochem and KG Mobility facilities. The Ministry plans to validate physical AI applications across various sectors such as shipbuilding, petrochemical, and automotive industries before expanding the technology to other manufacturing sectors.
In a related development, HD Hyundai had previously announced its intentions to integrate AI across various aspects of its operations, including design, production, quality control, and safety measures. This move is in response to challenges faced by the industry, such as labor shortages, escalating costs, and increased competition from other countries, particularly China.
