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Metaverse

Hyundai Motor to set up metaverse factory with Unity

To first apply Meta-Factory concept to HMGICS; expected to help upgrade actual plant operations worldwide

By Jan 07, 2022 (Gmt+09:00)

2 Min read

(Courtesy of Hyundai Motor)
(Courtesy of Hyundai Motor)

Hyundai Motor Co., South Korea’s top automaker, is set to establish a digital virtual factory in a metaverse space with Unity, a US-based real-time 3D content platform, in order to become a smart mobility solutions provider through upgrades of plant operations and production innovations.

The carmaker is seeking active partnership opportunities with other global companies such as Microsoft in order to further accelerate the advancement of smart factories, Hyundai said in a statement.

Hyundai and Unity on Jan. 6 signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to jointly design and build a new metaverse roadmap and platform for Meta-Factory. 

The partnership is expected to realize Hyundai’s vision of becoming the first mobility innovator to build a Meta-Factory concept, a digital twin of an actual plant, supported by a metaverse platform.

The automaker plans to first apply the concept to Hyundai Mobility Global Innovation Center in Singapore (HMGICS), supporting Hyundai Motor Group’s initiative to create an open innovation hub for research and development. The group earlier planned to adopt digital twin technology to HMGICS’ design sector.

Hyundai aims to introduce the first phase of the HMGICS Meta-Factory around the end of this year and complete it by 2025 with continuous technology upgrades. The HMGICS Meta-Factory, an open innovation center, researches and demonstrates the overall value chain of automobiles including vehicle orders, production and delivery.

"HMGICS will become a manufacturing innovation game-changer through this world-class Meta-Factory collaboration,” said Hyundai Motor Group’s President and Chief Innovation Officer Chi Young-cho. "HMGICS will lead the future innovation by introducing various technologies that will transform mobility paradigm through human-centered value chain innovation."
Designing a car with digital twin
Designing a car with digital twin

TO UPGRADE OPERATIONS OF GLOBAL PRODUCTION BASES

Hyundai expected the Meta-Factory to help upgrade operations of its production bases worldwide since it will allow the company to test-run a factory virtually in order to calculate the optimized plant operation, and enable plant managers to solve problems without a physical visit to the plant.

In the partnership with Unity, Hyundai will present overall directions of the Meta-Factory and discover tasks in production bases that metaverse technology can improve. Unity is slated to design the digital plant, provide real-time image rendering technology and support customized system development.

Hyundai and Unity will seek further cooperation for breakthrough innovations in metaverse-based digital twin factories while expanding collaboration in AI training and autonomous driving simulation.

“Real-time digital twins will permanently change how we live, work, shop and make a positive impact on our planet, representing a significant component of what is often referred to as the metaverse,” said Unity’s CEO John Riccitiello.

“Hyundai’s vision for the future, including the digital twin of factory operations, represents a significant technological step forward in manufacturing with unlimited potential in its efficiency.”

Write to Jung-dong Roh at dong2@hankyung.com
Jongwoo Cheon edited this article.
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