HD Hyundai Site Solutions is moving to advance its unmanned excavator technology by joining the development of a platform that handles everything from construction equipment design to the validation of artificial intelligence-based autonomous driving technology in a virtual environment.
The company said on the 25th that it had been selected as the final operator for a state-funded project run by the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy to develop a high-precision simulation-based digital twin platform for AI-powered unmanned autonomous excavators. The project carries a total budget of 6.33 billion won ($4.4 million) and runs through December 2029. Simji Co., the Korea Construction Equipment Research Institute, the Korea Institute of Industrial Technology and the Korea Construction Equipment Manufacturers Association are taking part as a consortium.
The project will recreate in virtual space how construction equipment operates — covering hydraulics, multibody dynamics and powertrains — as well as its physical interaction with soil. On that basis, the consortium plans to build a simulation-based digital twin platform capable of handling the design of major equipment such as excavators, wheel loaders and articulated dump trucks, along with the development and training of AI autonomous technology and field validation, all within a virtual environment. Until now, equipment and environmental constraints and safety concerns have made it difficult to quickly validate and develop autonomous technology for construction machinery across varied work conditions. Running advance checks in virtual space and comparing the results with data from actual equipment is expected to accelerate the refinement of the AI technology.
HD Hyundai Site Solutions will draw up standard specification requirements for the parts database used in virtual simulations and take charge of field validation and the assessment of operating scenarios. The company said it would directly apply the field data and pilot experience it has accumulated to improve the prospects for commercialization.
"It is meaningful to take part in a core project that will lead AI autonomy in the construction machinery industry," said Kwak Seong-kyu, executive director in charge of virtual technology at HD Hyundai Site Solutions. "Based on know-how proven in the field, we will actively contribute to mass production of unmanned autonomous technology and help raise both safety and productivity at future construction sites."