▶ Signing of MOU with Samsung C&T on February 18 (Fri.) for construction automation/autonomous technology... The first case of collaboration for autonomous technology

▶ Autonomous bulldozers and compaction roller equipment necessary for filling work for large-scale dams, airports, and housing site development

▶ Construction automation robot market expected to be valued at USD 7.9 billion by 2027

Hyundai Doosan Infracore, a subsidiary of Hyundai Genuine (the holding company of Hyundai Heavy Industries Group's construction equipment unit), is targeting the global autonomous construction market in partnership with Samsung C&T, the No. 1 construction company according to the domestic construction capability evaluation.

Hyundai Doosan Infracore announced on February 18, 2022 that it signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) for mutual cooperation in automation/autonomous technology with Samsung C&T at Samsung C&T’s head office in Sangil-dong, Gangdong-gu, Seoul. The signing ceremony was attended by key officials from both companies, including Lee Dong-wook, Vice President and Director of Hyundai Doosan Infracore’s Technology Institute, and Lee Byung-Soo, Vice President of Samsung C&T’s Business Development Division.

The MOU is the first case of two top-tier companies in the construction equipment and construction industries jointly developing technologies to operate autonomous equipment at construction sites. With the decrease in the labor force, shortage of skilled workers, and safety emerging as issues at construction sites, the two companies joined forces to introduce automation and autonomous technologies to construction sites preemptively.

Through this MOU, the two companies seek to develop and commercialize autonomous equipment such as bulldozers and compaction rollers, which are typically used for filling (transporting soil and stacking it on the ground) work. 

In particular, the development of autonomous equipment systems will be carried out in retrofit format. Retrofit refers to the digitalization of equipment by upgrading the functions of existing machines or applying network technology, which is more efficient than developing new equipment in terms of time and cost.

Hyundai Doosan Infracore plans to develop autonomous systems by using Concept-X, an autonomous technology that it successfully demonstrated in 2019. In particular, the company plans to develop autonomous filling equipment by applying XiteCloud technology—which can analyze information and control equipment at the site in three dimensions using drones—to bulldozers and compaction rollers in operation. Samsung C&T will develop process plans including control functions as well as an integrated control system that can operate a large number of unmanned equipment based on big data and know-how accumulated through civil works such as hydroelectric power generation, airports, ports, and solar power.

The autonomous soil filling technology implemented by the two companies is expected to be commercialized in the near future as it has a more formal environment and a relatively simple work pattern compared to earthworks. Following the successful autonomous technology development, it will be demonstrated at a large construction site of Samsung C&T. The two companies expect the technology to be utilized mainly in large dams, airports, housing site development, and road and railway construction, where filling work is the major process.

According to global market research firm Allied Market Research, the size of the automation robot market in the construction sector will grow rapidly at an average annual rate of 23.3% from 2020 to 2027, reaching USD 7.8803 billion (about KRW 9.44 trillion) by 2027.

“We expect to introduce safer and more innovative construction sites by combining Samsung C&T's construction-related big data and our autonomous technology. We will do our best to take an early lead in the automation and autonomous market in the construction sector,” said Lee Dong-wook, Director of Hyundai Doosan Infracore’s Technology Institute. 

According to Samsung C&T Business Development Director Lee Byung-soo, autonomous technology to improve the safety and productivity of construction sites is a crucial task for leaping forward. “We expect it to be the leader in the smart construction market through this technology cooperation with Hyundai Doosan Infracore,” he added.

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■ Photos

1) Application of the world’s first automated construction equipment solution Concept-X and smart construction platform technology XiteCloud by Hyundai Doosan Infracore

2) Hyundai Doosan Infracore and Samsung C&T signed an MOU for the development of construction automation and autonomous technology at Samsung C&T’s head office in Sangil-dong, Gangdong-gu, Seoul on February 18. Lee Dong-wook, Director of Hyundai Doosan Infracore Technology Institute (left), and Lee Byung-soo, Samsung C&T’s Business Development Director (right)