Hyundai Motor Group plans to deploy robots and physical artificial intelligence (AI) with the South Korean Army and validate the technologies in actual military operating environments.

Hyundai Motor Group said August 14 that it signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the Army and the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy (MOTIE) at Army Headquarters in Gyeryong, South Chungcheong Province, to expand the use of robots, physical AI and advanced technologies.

Hyundai Motor Group and the Army will consider applying physical AI to logistics automation, the transport of supplies, security and safety inspections. Technologies selected as pilot projects will be operated at Army testbeds to assess their reliability and practical applications.

At the Army's "AX hub" in Pangyo, the two sides will analyze data collected during the pilot projects and conduct joint research to improve the technologies.

The two sides will also examine the use of hydrogen mobility and hydrogen infrastructure in military applications. Kia completed testing and evaluation of a hydrogen-powered light tactical vehicle (ATV) with the military in May last year.

MOTIE will develop industrial policies related to physical AI and advanced technologies and link South Korea's robotics industry with defense demand. It will also explore ways to connect the initiative with a robotics manufacturing cluster and AI data center to be built in the Saemangeum AI Valley.