HD Hyundai Demonstrates Autonomous Unmanned Surface Vessel

Officials from South Korea and the United States attending the “unmanned surface vessel demonstration” held at the Port of Long Beach in California monitor the unmanned surface vessel carrying out its mission in real time from a land-based control center. (Provided by HD Hyundai) HD Hyundai recently held a joint demonstration of autonomous navigation for an unmanned surface vessel with U.S. AI defense company Anduril off the coast of the Port of Long Beach in California. About 40 officials attended the event, including Jang Gwang-pil, head of the Future Technology Research Institute at HD Korea Shipbuilding & Offshore Engineering, as well as representatives from the U.S. Navy, the Coast Guard, the American Bureau of Shipping (ABS), the Republic of Korea Navy, and the Defense Acquisition Program Administration. The vessel used in the demonstration was a modified version of a 368-ton large unmanned surface test craft previously operated by the U.S. Navy. It was equipped with HD Korea Shipbuilding & Offshore Engineering’s in-house-developed total ship autonomy solution, 'VAone,' together with Anduril’s mission autonomy solution, 'Lattice.' VAone is an integrated system that supports not only autonomous navigation but also real-time monitoring and automatic response for engine conditions, as well as ship damage detection and response functions. During the demonstration, which lasted about three and a half hours, the unmanned surface vessel successfully carried out a range of scenarios that could occur in actual maritime operations, beginning with autonomous navigation and extending to mission changes, formation operations, and emergency response during engine failure. The entire demonstration process was broadcast in real time through a land-based control center, where attendees directly observed the unmanned vessel making decisions and responding on its own. Following the successful demonstration, HD Hyundai said it plans to accelerate its push into not only U.S. unmanned surface vessel programs but also the global market, where demand is rising rapidly. Jang, a vice president, said the event confirmed the vessel’s ability to carry out complex missions in a variety of real-world situations arising after departure, and stressed that the company would work to secure an early lead in the market through further technological advancement.