Hyundai Mobis develops autonomous driving sensors

Hyundai Mobis, a South Korean auto parts company, is embarking on driving tests in and out of the country in a bid to achieve an independent development of main sensors for autonomous driving vehicles. Securing a proprietary technology in autonomous driving system through sensors development is one of the core targets that Hyundai Mobis pursues in the years to come.

The company explains that the technology will be a main staple for Hyundai Mobis with a significant growth potential, especially after the deal has been reached on handing over the modules and AS auto parts businesses to its group affiliate, Hyundai Glovis.

Hyundai Mobis announced on Thursday it would launch a real car driving test in Michigan, the United States, to develop Level 3 and Level 4 autonomous driving systems as standardized by SAE International, a U.S.-based organization for professional engineers in various industries. Level 3 means partial autonomous driving, which requires engagement of a driver under special circumstances, and Level 4 effectively refers to a state of completely autonomous driving experience that does not need any human performance. The state of Michigan, where Hyundai Mobis will be conducting the tests, is home to the company’s American corporate body and its research center for self-driving technologies and ICT.

For the field test, Hyundai Mobis has built a car named M. BILLY, which stands for “Mobis. Brilliant Intelligent Learning LibrarY.” After the trials in the United States, the company will continue on their tests with the M. BILLY in South Korea next month and in Germany in June. The plan will run their test car for each country, before expanding the number of test vehicles to more than 10 within this year.

The test car will be equipped with a sensor developed with the proprietary technologies by Hyundai Mobis. A total of 25 sensors under eight different types will be mounted on the car, which include one front camera, five radars, one lidar, which is also dubbed a laser radar, 12 ultrasound sensors, and four camera sensors as well as four “Surround View Monitoring” systems, a technology providing a bird-eyed view from above with the aid of the rest of sensors.

Hyundai Mobis is planning to replace the rest of parts with its independently developed sensors step by step, following its developed radar built in the M. BILLY. In particular, it is noteworthy that the company aims to achieve mass production of lidar, the core part of self-driving vehicles, as the first South Korean developer to do so. The lidar allows vehicles to perceive surroundings more sensitively by beaming laser around. An independent development of sensors required for autonomous driving cab help complete the autonomous driving system, which in turn will enable the company to clench supply deals with auto manufacturers around the world.


Woo-Shin Han hanwshin@donga.com