HD Hyundai and Anduril Demonstrate Autonomous Surface Vessel Technology in California

Yesterday 16:48

HD Hyundai and US defense technology company Anduril have completed a joint demonstration of autonomous navigation capabilities for an unmanned surface vessel off the coast of California, marking a step forward in their efforts to develop technologies for the emerging autonomous maritime sector.

Announced on October 19, the trial took place near the Port of Long Beach and represented the first demonstration of unmanned surface vessel technology in the United States by a South Korean company, according to HD Hyundai. The initiative also highlights growing cooperation between South Korean shipbuilders and American technology developers in the field of autonomous maritime systems.

A test platform for advanced maritime autonomy

The demonstration used a modified vessel weighing 368 tonnes that had previously served the US Navy as a test platform. The ship was equipped with two complementary systems: VAone, developed by HD Korea Shipbuilding & Offshore Engineering, and Anduril’s Lattice mission autonomy platform.

VAone draws on autonomous navigation technology developed by Avikus, an HD Hyundai subsidiary specializing in maritime autonomy. Its capabilities include monitoring onboard machinery conditions, identifying damage and initiating automated responses to detected problems.

Lattice, meanwhile, is designed to coordinate autonomous mission execution. The integration of the two platforms allowed the companies to evaluate how navigation, operational decision-making and mission management could function together aboard an unmanned vessel.

Three and a half hours of operational testing

During the approximately three-and-a-half-hour trial, engineers assessed several capabilities under operational scenarios designed to test the vessel’s autonomy.

The exercises covered autonomous navigation, adjustments to mission parameters, coordinated formation movements and emergency responses to machinery failures. These tests were intended to demonstrate whether the vessel could manage changing operational requirements while responding to potential technical problems.

The companies reported that the demonstration confirmed the platform’s ability to handle complex missions across a range of real-world operating scenarios. However, the announcement did not provide detailed performance figures or specify a timetable for commercial deployment.

Global market ambitions

Beyond the technical results, the trial supports HD Hyundai and Anduril’s ambition to expand into the international market for unmanned surface vessels, with the United States identified as a key target.

Autonomous maritime systems are attracting interest for their potential to reduce the need for onboard personnel, support extended operations and improve the management of demanding missions. Their development nevertheless depends on reliable navigation, effective responses to unexpected events and the integration of multiple control systems.

For shipbuilders and defense technology companies, demonstrating that these capabilities can operate together is an important step toward broader deployment.

Jang Kwang-pil, vice president and head of the Future Technology Research Institute at HD Korea Shipbuilding & Offshore Engineering, said the trial had confirmed the vessel’s capacity to carry out complex missions under different operational conditions. He added that the company would continue investing in the development and improvement of the technology.

The latest demonstration provides a practical basis for further cooperation between the two companies as they pursue opportunities in the evolving global autonomous vessel market.