South Korean shipbuilder HD Hyundai has demonstrated new uncrewed surface vessel technology off the California coast in partnership with US defense technology firm Anduril Industries, aiming to tap into rising naval demand in the US and worldwide.
HD Hyundai said Monday it had successfully tested the autonomous capabilities of an uncrewed surface vessel off the coast of Long Beach, California, marking the first such demonstration by a South Korean company in US waters, according to the company.
About 40 officials attended the event, including representatives from the US Navy, US Coast Guard, American Bureau of Shipping, South Korean Navy and Defense Acquisition Program Administration, as well as executives from HD Hyundai and Anduril.
During the 3.5-hour demonstration, the vessel carried out a series of simulated scenarios, including autonomous navigation, mission changes, formation operations and emergency responses to engine failures.
The entire demonstration was monitored and broadcast in real-time from a shore-based control center, letting participants watch the vessel make autonomous decisions and carry out its mission.
The test used a modified 368-ton uncrewed surface vessel previously operated by the US Navy. It was equipped with HD Korea Shipbuilding & Offshore Engineering’s naval autonomy software VAone and Anduril’s Lattice, an artificial intelligence-powered platform designed for autonomous mission management.
VAone integrates autonomous navigation technology based on HiNAS Prime, developed by HD Hyundai’s autonomous shipping subsidiary Avikus, with systems that monitor machinery conditions, detect abnormalities and automatically respond to equipment failures. It also incorporates autonomous damage detection and response capabilities.
By combining VAone with Anduril's Lattice platform, the companies successfully showed that they can build a fully uncrewed surface vessel, one that autonomously handles navigation, engines, damage control and weapons.
HD Hyundai said it plans to leverage the technologies shown in the demonstration to break into the US Navy's uncrewed surface vessel programs and the broader global market, where demand for autonomous platforms is surging.
“The demonstration was meaningful because it confirmed the uncrewed vessel’s ability to carry out complex missions and respond to various real-world scenarios that could occur after deployment,” Chang Kwang-pil, senior executive vice president at HD Korea Shipbuilding & Offshore Engineering, said. “ We will keep working on technology development and refinement to secure a lead in the uncrewed surface vessel market.”
By Ahn Sung-mi (sahn@heraldcorp.com)
