HD Hyundai shows off unmanned warship technology in U.S. with Anduril

HD Hyundai has successfully demonstrated an unmanned surface vessel in the United States with Anduril, a U.S. defense technology company.

The demonstration took place off the coast of Long Beach, California. The two companies ran the vessel through a range of scenarios at sea, including autonomous navigation, mission changes, sailing in formation and an emergency response to an engine failure. The entire run was relayed through an onshore control center, so attendees could watch the vessel carry out its missions in real time.

About 40 officials from both countries attended, including Jang Kwang-pil, vice president and head of the Future Technology Research Institute at HD Korea Shipbuilding & Offshore Engineering (KSOE). Representatives of Anduril, the U.S. Navy and Coast Guard, the American Bureau of Shipping, and the Korean Navy and Defense Acquisition Program Administration also took part.

The vessel was a 368-ton unmanned test ship formerly operated by the U.S. Navy. It was fitted with VAone, a self-driving package developed in-house by HD KSOE, and Anduril’s mission software, Lattice.

VAone builds on HiNAS Prime, a navigation system from Avikus, HD Hyundai’s subsidiary specializing in autonomous navigation. The package also allows the ship to monitor its own engine and react to problems without human input, and to detect damage and take corrective action by itself.

Based on the results, the two companies plan to pursue the U.S. unmanned surface vessel program and expand into the global market.

BY LEE JAE-LIM [[email protected]]