Hyundai, Unity partner to build 'Meta-Factory'

An illustration of a smart factory that can manage operations through a realistic 'digital twin' in the metaverse connecting all devices and equipment including robots. Courtesy of Hyundai Motor Group

By Kim Hyun-bin

LAS VEGAS ― Hyundai Motor Company and Unity, the world's leading platform firm for creating and operating real-time 3D content, have inked a partnership to jointly design and build a new metaverse roadmap and platform for what they call the "Meta-Factory," at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) 2022.

The two companies held a virtual memorandum of understanding (MOU) signing ceremony attended by Hyundai Motor Group President and Chief Innovation Officer Chi Young-cho, Hyundai Motor Global Innovation Center in Singapore (HMGICS) Senior Vice President and CEO Jung Hong-bum and Unity Senior Vice President Dave Rhodes in charge of Digital Twin.

Through this MOU, Unity becomes a strategic partner for Hyundai, supporting its vision of becoming a leader in future mobility. The MOU pertains to the fields of smart manufacturing, AI training and study as well as autonomous driving simulation.

Logo of Consumer Electronics Show / Courtesy of Consumer Technology Association

The partnership will realize Hyundai's vision of becoming the first mobility innovator to build the Meta-Factory concept, a digital twin of an actual factory supported by a metaverse platform. The introduction of a Meta-Factory will allow Hyundai to test-run a factory virtually in order to optimize plant operation and enable plant managers to solve problems without having to physically visit the plant.

The partnership will also culminate in a real-time 3D and virtual platform that will offer a more comprehensive range of services across sales, marketing and customer experience to a broad group of Hyundai customers. Hyundai plans to first apply the Meta-Factory concept to the HMGICS facility, supporting the company's initiative to create an open innovation hub for research and development.

Due for completion by the end of the year, HMGICS will study many advanced technologies and mobility services. At HMGICS, Hyundai and Unity's partnership will further accelerate innovation in the field of intelligent manufacturing, integrating AI, 5G and other advanced technologies into a next-generation smart factory platform.

"HMGICS will become a manufacturing innovation 'game changer' through this world-class Meta-Factory collaboration," Chi said. "And HMGICS will lead the future innovation by introducing various technologies that will transform the mobility paradigm through human-centered value chain innovation."

Hyundai and Unity will seek ways to expand the partnership in order to realize breakthrough innovations in metaverse-based digital twin factories, while also enhancing collaboration in the fields of AI training and studies as well as autonomous driving simulation.

Hyundai will also continue to pursue active partnership opportunities with other global firms such as Microsoft in order to further accelerate the advancement of smart factories.

"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," Unity CEO John Riccitiello said. "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."

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