HD Hyundai has successfully demonstrated cutting-edge unmanned surface vessel (USV) technology developed in partnership with Anduril, a U.S.-based artificial intelligence (AI) defense firm. The company aims to accelerate its push into the global USV market, with a primary focus on the U.S.
HD Hyundai recently conducted a joint autonomous navigation demonstration of their USV off the coast of Long Beach, California, as reported on Monday.
The event drew approximately 40 attendees, including Jang Kwang-pil, Vice President of HD Korea Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering’s Future Technology Research Institute, along with representatives from Anduril, the U.S. Navy and Coast Guard, American Bureau of Shipping (ABS), and officials from the South Korean Navy and Defense Acquisition Program Administration.
During the demonstration, the two companies showcased the USV’s advanced capabilities by simulating various maritime scenarios. These included autonomous navigation, mission adaptability, fleet operations, and emergency protocols for engine malfunctions.
The 3.5-hour demonstration was streamed live to a shore-based control center, allowing observers to monitor the USV’s mission execution in real-time.
The vessel used for the demonstration was a modified 368-ton unmanned surface test ship, formerly operated by the U.S. Navy. It was equipped with HD Hyundai’s proprietary total solution for vessel autonomy, VAone, and Anduril’s mission autonomy solution, Lattice.
VAone is built on the HiNAS Prime autonomous navigation solution, developed by Avikus, HD Hyundai’s autonomous navigation subsidiary. The system features real-time engine monitoring with anomaly detection and automatic response capabilities, as well as an autonomous damage control solution that can identify and address vessel damage independently.
By integrating VAone and Lattice, the companies demonstrated technologies crucial for complex unmanned missions, including navigation, engine management, damage control, and weapons systems autonomy. The demonstration highlighted the USV’s ability to make continuous, autonomous decisions and responses in diverse maritime environments.
Leveraging the technical prowess showcased in this demonstration, HD Hyundai and Anduril plan to target both the U.S. USV market and the broader global USV sector.
Vice President Jang Kwang-pil emphasized the demonstration’s significance, stating that this event validated our USV’s ability to execute complex missions across a range of real-world scenarios. It’s committed to intensifying the research and development (R&D) efforts to secure a leading position in the rapidly evolving USV market.
The collaboration between HD Hyundai and Anduril extends beyond USVs to include unmanned underwater vehicles (UUVs). In April, the two companies inked a memorandum of understanding (MOU) for the joint development of advanced UUV systems.
