Hyundai and Kia dive into VR

HYUNDAI Motor Company and sister company Kia Motors Corporation have unveiled a new virtual reality (VR) design evaluation system designed to “heighten focus on enhancing vehicle development processes”.

Expected to contribute to a 20 per cent reduction in vehicle development times and a 15 per cent reduction in annual development costs, the new technology was unveiled at the car-makers’ global design headquarters this week as part of its $18.58 million investment in the Namyang Research and Development Centre.

The new technology will enable designs from both brands to review a multitude of concepts more efficiently and earlier in the development process.

Up to 20 engineers and designers will be able to enter the virtual developmental simulations, with 36 motion tracking sensors detecting and tracking the locations and movement of all users.

According to Hyundai Motor Group head of research and development Albert Biermann, the new VR process was “a necessary step for responding quickly and reacting with agility to the needs of customers and paradigm shifts within the automotive industry”.

“Through reinforced virtual processes, we will enhance quality and profitability, ultimately increasing investment in R&D to secure competitiveness in future mobility,” he said.

The system was first used earlier this year by Hyundai during the design assessment stages of the HDC-6 Neptune Concept Class 8 truck – revealed in October this year – and plans are underway to develop remote technology so designers in Europe, America, China and India can collaborate in real time.

Hyundai and Kia also said the new technology shows “tremendous potential for developing safety technologies, as participants can virtually test vehicles in a variety of simulated environments and situations”.