Hyundai Motor Group is exploring ways to apply physical AI (artificial intelligence with a physical presence) to the defense sector in partnership with the government and the military. The plan aims to improve troop safety and streamline support operations.
Hyundai Motor Group said on the 14th that it signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the Army and the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Resources at Army headquarters in Gyeryong, South Chungcheong Province, to expand the use of robots, physical AI and advanced technologies. Army Chief of Staff Kim Gyu-ha, Deputy Chief of Staff Choi Jang-sik, Ministry of Trade, Industry and Resources Industry Growth Office Director Lee Min-woo, and Hyundai Motor Group Executive Vice President Lee Hang-soo attended.
Recently, the defense sector has seen a growing need to adopt automation and intelligence technologies due to a decline in manpower resources from demographic changes and rising demand for advanced technology. To prepare for these shifts, the goal of this cooperation is to review how physical AI and advanced technologies can be used in defense and to carry out related technology demonstrations. A Hyundai Motor Group official said, "In particular, we plan to pool our efforts to find ways to ease the burden of dangerous or repetitive support tasks so that service members can focus more safely on their core missions."
Accordingly, Hyundai Motor Group, the Army and the Ministry of Trade and Industry (MOTI) will cooperate across a wide range of areas, including: ▲ reviewing ways to apply physical AI in the defense sector ▲ building and piloting a testbed for demonstrations ▲ joint civil-military research on core technologies such as AI data ▲ discussions on using hydrogen mobility and hydrogen infrastructure ▲ exploring links to the "Saemangeum AI Valley" to expand the physical AI ecosystem going forward.
First, for applying physical AI in the defense sector, they will review various options such as logistics automation, transport of support supplies, and perimeter and safety inspections. Options selected as demonstration projects after review will be applied to a testbed built within the Army to verify reliability and usability in real operating environments.
At the Army's Pangyo "AX hub," which goes into full operation this year, they will also pursue joint civil-military research, such as analyzing data gathered during demonstrations to identify areas for improvement. The military AX hubs are a converged civil-military-academic ecosystem being created in five regions, including Pangyo (Army), to quickly integrate the private sector's latest AI technologies into defense for the Army, Navy and Air Force.
In addition, the parties to the agreement will discuss the potential use of hydrogen mobility and hydrogen infrastructure and explore connections with facilities to be established at the "Saemangeum AI Valley," such as a robot manufacturing cluster and an AI data center. To ensure smooth cooperation, Hyundai Motor Group will provide manpower and technology for development and demonstrations. The Army will provide a testbed for technology demonstrations and support the necessary environment, including communications, so trials can be conducted stably. The Ministry of Trade and Industry (MOTI) will formulate industrial policies to foster physical AI and advanced technologies and support links between the domestic robotics industry ecosystem and defense demand.
The parties will form a consultative body and appoint working-level leaders for each project to boost execution. A Hyundai Motor Group official said, "Through technology demonstrations and joint research that reflect on-site needs, we will help build a safe and efficient military support system and strengthen Korea's competitiveness in physical AI."