Hyundai Mobis has plans to use its proving ground to develop autonomous driving sensors, which are essential for future vehicles, by 2020.
To this end, the company will increase its R&D investment cost from the current level of 7% of its parts sales to 10% by 2021. It will also invest 50% of it in ICT, which is closely related to autonomous driving, expanding related R&D workforce and infrastructure and actively promoting technical partnerships with global companies.
Partnering with 2 German companies to spur the development of high- and entry-level radars
German companies with which Hyundai Mobis signed a partnership to develop radars include SMS and ASTYX. Both are radar developers possessing the best design capabilities; the former jointly developed radars with TRW and Continental, and the latter with BMW and Autoliv.
Working with SMS and ASTYX, Hyundai Mobis will develop five radars for autonomous cars, which can allow cars to detect 360° around them by the end of this year and begin full-fledged production by 2021. The company will cooperate with SMS for entry-level front and side radars and with ASTYX for high-performance front radars. It will also complete a joint R&D project with Seoul National University for improving the target distinguishment of radars.
To ensure the performance and quality of sensors, Hyundai Mobis laid a dedicated test track for sensor testing in Seosan Proving Ground and commenced tests from last June. The company will also test ADAS equipped with their proprietary sensors and apply the sensors to M.Billy, its autonomous driving test car, which will run on actual roads to help improve performance and safety.
The largest autonomous driving test bed in Korea and the only test bed with a radar test track
As a means to become fully ready for the era of autonomous driving, Hyundai Mobis completed Seosan Proving Ground last June by investing 300 billion won, and the company is currently operating it. Seosan Proving Ground features 14 test tracks including an advanced test track for autonomous driving and a radar test track. Measuring 1.12 million square meters in area, Seosan Proving Ground boasts of the best size and facilities among the proving grounds run by global automotive suppliers.
The nation’s only radar test track that measures 250 meters in total length. Currently, tests are being conducted on this track to improve the reliability and performance of radars. On this track, a car equipped with a radar sensor is positioned in the center and the detection performance of the sensor is measured using reflective plates called TCR that are installed at 5-meter intervals. This sensor test measures the range and angle of detection and resolution and accuracy. Resolution is a measure of the minimum separation between two targets that enables them to be distinguished.
The advanced test track commenced operations last June, earlier than K-City, an autonomous driving test bed being constructed by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport in Hwaseong, Gyeonggi Province. The advanced test track is designed to verify the performance of sensors in actual road circumstances with V21 (Vehicle to Infra: communication between vehicle and road infrastructure) station, bus stops, roundabouts, traffic lights and an autonomous parking test area in Fake City.
Hyundai Mobis not only tests the performance of sensors but it also tests the functionality of ADAS technologies equipped with these sensors. It has also reinforced testing of control parts that receive information from sensors and move, including steering, braking and suspension units.
Source: Hyundai Mobis
