Hyundai has been making a big deal out of its commitment to the metaverse and today, thanks to a memorandum of understanding (MOU) between the automaker and Unity, we’re getting a taste of what the technology may actually help it do.
Unity is a leading platform for creating and operating real-time 3D content, like the Playstation VR game Beat Saber, among countless others. Hyundai hopes to use the platform to improve its smart manufacturing, AI training, and its autonomous driving technology.
The MOU will also lead to the creation of a “meta-factory,” which is a digital twin of an actual factory. In much the same way as automakers use simulations to test vehicles in digital space before they test them in the real world, Hyundai wants to allow its plant managers to step inside the virtual factory before it’s built.
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Eventually, that will allow it to test manufacturing sites and figure out how to optimize plant operation and solve problems before they’re built. But first, it will create a meta-facility based on the “Hyundai Mobility Global Innovation Center in Singapore (HMGICS) where it hopes to create an open innovation hub for research and development.
“HMGICS will become a manufacturing innovation ‘game changer’ through this world-class Meta-Factory collaboration”, said President Chi, “And HMGICS will lead the future innovation by introducing various technologies that will transform mobility paradigm through human-centered value chain innovation.”
Additionally, the automaker plans to create a real-time 3D space for its customers. Hyundai says this will offer them a more comprehensive range of services across sales, marketing, and customer experience. The company envisions allowing customers to trial, test, and engage with various auto-related products digitally, without having to leave the house.
“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,” said John Riccitiello, Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Unity. “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.”
