PROJECT PASCAL FORUM

 

Digital Twin Meta-Factory, HMGICS

Mr. Min Won Byun, Head of Business Cooperation

Mr. Wee Tak Hoo, Digital Transformation Leader

Host: Taeyoung Kang, Chenxi Zhang

Organized by Project Pascal

Pascal Panel: Sashil Anand, Terrence Lim, Kushagra Kesarwani

 

Given its worldwide reputation for innovation and diversity, Hyundai Motor Group chose Singapore as the ideal home for its first industry-changing smart urban mobility hub. Delivering a human-centric manufacturing approach, HMGICS elevates collaboration between people, robotics, and Artificial Intelligence (AI) technology to new levels of synchronization. Further to this, digital twin Meta-Factory technology will ensure ultra-rapid responses to changing customer demands and production requirements.

HMGICS equipped the facility with fifth-generation (5G) network systems for rapid data transmission and analysis. It also set up what it called a mega-factory used to simulate and control manufacturing processes in a 3D virtual space.

Seamlessly integrated into the Jurong Innovation District urban landscape and the broader Singapore smart city ecosystem, the seven-story, 86,900 m2 HMGICS facility has the capability to manufacture up to 30,000 EVs per annum. Operational since early 2023, HMGICS already produces IONIQ 5 and the fully autonomous IONIQ 5 robotaxi and will add IONIQ 6 to its portfolio of models built on-site next year. The facility will serve as a testbed for developing future mobility solutions – including Purpose Built Vehicles (PBVs) – thanks to its advanced manufacturing capability.

Approximately 50 percent of all tasks are carried out by 200 robots, with humans, robotics and AI systems achieving unprecedented levels of collaboration thanks to integration made possible by the digital twin platform.

Operating as a digital twin Meta-Factory, HMGICS synchronizes the virtual and physical worlds in real time. This enables humans and robots to cooperate in ways not seen before. Employees can simulate tasks in the digital virtual space – or metaverse – while robots physically move components on the production line.

 

“HMGICS is Hyundai Motor Group’s first global innovation hub and a global testbed for future mobility. Our role is to innovate the mobility value chain by developing and producing advanced future mobility solutions of various forms. “

Mr. Min Won Byun

Head of Business Cooperation, HMGICS

 

“Real-time digital twins, Digital Transformation change how we work and make a positive impact on our workflow. Hyundai’s vision including the digital twin of factory operations represents a significant technological step forward in manufacturing with unlimited potential in its efficiency.”

Mr. Wee Tak Hoo

Digital Transformation Leader, HMGICS

 

 

Highly automated, flexible cell-based production

 

HMGICS has been designed to revolutionize how EVs and other forms of smart mobility solutions – including robotaxi and PBVs – are delivered. Key to this is a cell-based production system that leaves behind the traditional conveyor-belt manufacturing approach to achieve unsurpassed standards of flexibility and automation.

Hyundai shared its vision for Expanding Human Reach with robotics and the metaverse. Hyundai Motor is presenting its vision of how robotics will complete the metaverse by connecting the virtual world with reality as a medium, and eventually overcome the physical limitations of movement regarding time and space.

In order to realize breakthrough innovations in metaverse-based digital twin factory, Hyundai also is expanding collaborating in the fields of AI training and study as well as autonomous driving simulation. Hyundai will also continue to pursue active partnership opportunities with other global partners in order to further accelerate advancement of smart factory.

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.

 

Pascal Thoughts

 

“Innovation meets efficiency. The concept of instant monitoring and the potential for full automation in the future showcase the power of technological innovation in the industry. Digital transformation in smart factories also fosters a culture of innovation and continuous improvement. But it’s not just about efficiency, but sustainability as well. Meta Smart Factory is committed to minimizing environmental impact, ensuring a greener future for generations to come.”

Kushagra Kesarwani

 

“Digital transformation is not just about technology but also about fostering a culture of innovation and continuous improvement. We discussed the importance of data democratization and how it empowers people at all levels to equip these skills.”

Sashil Anand

 

“Exploring the role of algorithms, data structures, and artificial intelligence in smart factory operations has been exhilarating. The prospect of developing intelligent systems to automate processes is incredibly exciting.”

Terrence Lim