Hyundai innovates EV manufacturing with smart factory system
Byung-wook Do
Jul 02, 2021 (Gmt+09:00)
IONIQ 5 production South Korea’s top carmaker Hyundai Motor Co. is making innovations in its electric vehicle manufacturing processes.
The company on July 1 revealed a video showing a highly automated production line of its latest dedicated EV, IONIQ 5, at a smart factory powered by artificial intelligence (AI) and robot technologies.
In the video, Hyundai automated the production process of its integrated charging control unit (ICCU), a key device that allows EVs to charge both high voltage batteries and spare batteries.
Hyundai Motor Group’s official YouTube clip also showed that its EV production line has been designed to automatically carry out entire processes that include assembly, welding and the moving of parts. Hyundai said that the IONIQ 5 is manufactured in a clean room, just like in the semiconductor industry, as the EV model requires precision and clean environment.
▲ IONIQ 5 Production Process | Electric Vehicle Production from Hyundai Factory | Hyundai Battery pack production is also automated, with the production facility removing double-sided film from a single polyurethane pad and assembling a battery cell. Hyundai added that the automated system ensures that both the products and the manufacturing process are inspected simultaneously.
The video also showed a six-axis multi-joint robot manufacturing a battery module with 12 battery cells, with a deviation range under 0.2 mm. The completed battery pack is then loaded onto an automated guided vehicle (AGV), which is equipped with wireless communication devices and anti-crash sensors. The AGV moves the cell to a designated location on its own, avoiding obstacles.
Hyundai said it uses automated systems to check over various electronic components of the IONIQ 5 as well. Based on data previously input by computers, these systems test whether cameras and radars are working properly.
“We implemented a smart factory system by applying a high degree of artificial intelligence (AI) and robot technologies,” said a Hyundai Motor official. “We also use a variety of industrial robots when assembling the body of the vehicle.”
Write to Byung-wook Do at dodo@hankyung.com Jongwoo Cheon edited this article.