Hyundai Mobis taps AI for car software

Hyundai Mobis analyzes an infotainment product through computer simulation in this file photo. / Courtesy of Hyundai Mobis

By Nam Hyun-woo

Hyundai Mobis said Sunday it has started using artificial intelligence (AI) systems that will automate time-consuming parts of its car software developing process.

According to the auto parts maker has recently put the Mobis Artificial Intelligence Software Testing (MAIST) testing system on its car software development team.

MAIST, jointly developed with the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology, will test every operation process of software based on algorithms designed by developers at Hyundai Mobis.

Hyundai Mobis demonstrated MAIST on its software for integrated body control unit (IBU) and surround view monitoring and reduced the workforce for testing by 53 percent and 70 percent, respectively. IBU refers to a system that monitors and controls smart keys, doors and other accessories as well as tire pressure.

Hyundai Mobis said it will expand the use of MAIST to all auto parts requiring software, including steering, braking and other advanced driver assistance systems in the second half of this year.

“As the amount of software required for cars increases, the importance of testing it is increasing, and many auto parts makers are making more efforts and taking more time to test their software,” a Hyundai Mobis official said. “With MAIST taking care of this work, our developers can spend more of their time designing new algorithms.”

To better improve its developers' work efficiency, Hyundai Mobis also developed the Mobis AI robot (MAIBOT), which is a chatbot responsible for searching for specific data in a cloud database.

Hyundai Mobis said its cloud database stores more than 200,000 pieces of data and MAIBOT will understand the content of the data and the searcher's intent, to help its employees to find what they want quickly.

The auto parts maker said MAIBOT gets “smarter” as its database builds up with deep learning. Currently, it can understand the technical terminology of the car industry.

Hyundai Mobis will expand the use of MAIBOT in its major divisions next year, and enhance the chatbot's capabilities to search not only research and development databases but also other intra-company information.

Hyundai Mobis's move comes amid its bid to focus more on technology, especially in developing software for autonomous driving.

According to a McKinsey & Company report, software will account for 30 percent of total vehicle content by 2030, up from about 10 percent today, highlighting the importance of software security and reliability.

As part of its efforts to become a software-centric auto parts maker, Hyundai Mobis invested 1.4 billion won ($1.3 million) last month to establish a software institute to train 400 researchers.

Also in June, Hyundai Mobis hired Carsten Weiss as vice president of its in vehicle infotainment-software development unit. Weiss handled the development of telematics, infotainment systems and software platforms at the German automotive technology firm Continental.