Nam Hyun-woo has worked as a staff writer at The Korea Times since 2013, mostly covering business and politics. He currently belongs to the Business Desk where he covers topics such as emerging tech, AI, ICT and Korea's chaebol community. Prior to joining the team, he was the paper's correspondent for the presidential office of Korea during the Yoon Suk Yeol and Moon Jae-in administrations.
LG Innotek, Applied Intuition team up for physical AI
LG Innotek CEO Moon Hyuk-soo, left, shakes hands with Applied Intuition CEO Qasar Younis in this undated handout photo released, Monday. Courtesy of LG Innotek
By Nam Hyun-woo
LG Innotek has formed a strategic partnership with Applied Intuition, a U.S.-based autonomous driving software firm, as part of its efforts to take a lead in the global physical artificial intelligence (AI) market, the company said Monday.
Applied Intuition is one of the leading players in autonomous driving software and simulation tools, having 18 out of the world’s top 20 automakers as clients. LG Innotek plans to expand its partnership with the U.S. company beyond autonomous driving into new business areas such as drones and robotics, as part of its strategy to secure a leading position in the physical AI market.
Under the partnership, LG Innotek will use Applied Intuition’s software and test vehicles to fine-tune its sensing modules for autonomous driving.
As the vehicles operate across the United States, Europe, Japan and other markets, LG Innotek will be able to secure a vast amount of real-world autonomous driving data, including information on regional road infrastructure, traffic patterns and climate conditions.
In Korea, the company said it also plans to conduct its own autonomous driving tests based on Applied Intuition’s software. This will allow LG Innotek to validate new technologies currently under development, such as its multi-sensing solution combining cameras, LiDAR and radar, through real-world driving. The company said this is expected to shorten development timelines.
LG Innotek will also apply its virtual sensors, which use digital twin technology to replicate the characteristics of actual cameras, LiDAR and radar in a virtual environment, to Applied Intuition’s simulation tools. Through this, automakers can secure data similar to real-world driving through simulation.
“If automakers use LG Innotek’s virtual sensors during the development phase, they are more likely to select the same products for mass production,” an LG Innotek official said. “By integrating sensors and software, the solution can streamline system design and validation processes, significantly reducing development time and accelerating the launch of autonomous vehicles.”
LG Innotek and Applied Intuition will launch a joint promotion campaign on the solution.
The partnership is expected to serve as an opportunity for LG Innotek to redefine itself as a physical AI solution provider, supplying not only components but also products that integrates hardware, software and other external services. Through the collaboration, the company seeks to strengthen its capabilities not only in sensors for autonomous driving and robotics, but also in data and software, the company said.
“Through collaboration with Applied Intuition, which holds world-leading technologies in autonomous driving software, LG Innotek will provide customers with solutions that set new standards for autonomous driving,” LG Innotek CEO Moon Hyuk-soo said.
“We will take a leap forward to become a global top-tier player in mobility and robotics sensing, leading the era of physical AI.”