HD Hyundai demonstrated its Future Builder Vision at the recent CES 2024 technology event in Las Vegas.
The manufacturer explained that the concept aims to improve construction safety, boost equipment productivity, and deliver environmental benefits.
Under the Xite Transformation banner, HD Hyundai showcased a range of autonomous machinery, zero-carbon power systems and connected site management. The manufacturer’s vice chairman and CEO Kisun Chung provided a keynote speech, in which he announced a series of global collaborations with technology partners including Google and Gravis Robotics.
HD Hyundai’s Advanced Around View Monitoring (AAVM) system of cameras are designed to provide operators with ‘maximum visibility’ all around machines. The company also offers Intelligent Moving Object Detection (IMOD) technology, which senses and warns if people or objects come within 5m of machines.
As part of Xite Transformation, HD Hyundai’s X-Wise artificial intelligence platform is said to take site safety ‘to the next level’. Using safety sensors and fully autonomous machinery, such as the company’s 4.5m unmanned excavator, it will be possible to separate high-risk equipment from workers.
Through the use of connected robotics, HD Hyundai demonstrated how a single operator will in the future be able to work remotely from the office, to control a range of machinery on site. The company aims to control equipment working in hazardous environments remotely, eliminating safety incidents and enhancing performance. Self-driving machinery, with 3D machine guidance and control systems, will be able to work autonomously.
The company also highlighted Twin Xite Site Management. The X-Wise AI-powered construction management solution connects and collates data from sensors and drones on site, along with machine learning technologies from excavators, loaders and haulers, to model future works and control equipment on the ground. Working through a collaboration with Google Cloud, HD Hyundai said it will be able to maximise productivity and efficiency of equipment on site, while ensuring minimum risk to operatives.
Visitors were given the opportunity to try much of this technology, using simulators to control a wheeled loader operating thousands of miles away in Atlanta. There were also virtual reality headsets that allowed attendees to experience a range of future machines and solutions. Life-size futuristic autonomous construction equipment was also present.
“Without changing the way we build, we cannot change our future,” said Mr Chung. “That’s why we at HD Hyundai are here today, to share HD Hyundai’s vision to change the course of humanity, by changing the future of the construction industry. We call it Xite Transformation, calling on all of the latest technologies across all industries so we can transform how we build our infrastructure, our lives, our future.
“We have three main goals with Xite Transformation. Firstly, enhancing safety on construction sites, for zero accident working using the latest digital technologies. Second, delivering a quantum leap in productivity, through zero idle time and zero downtime on our construction sites. Our ultimate goal being site autonomy. Third, decarbonising our building sites, to make future construction net zero.”
