LG Innotek accelerates entry into physical AI market through partnership with Applied Intuition

Signed a partnership agreement with self-driving software company Applied Intuition.

• Expanding collaboration beyond self-driving to drones and robotics to secure leadership in physical AI

• Maximizing module performance through automated driving demonstration tests

• It is hoped that the development of a self-driving “virtual sensor” will lead to orders for actual products from automakers around the world.

• CEO Moon: “My dream is to become a world-class leader in mobility and robot sensing solutions that will lead the era of physical AI.”

LG Innotek (CEO Moon Hyuk-soo) announced on March 29 that it has entered into a strategic partnership with Applied Intuition, a world leader in physical AI and self-driving software.

Through this partnership, LG Innotek aims to further improve the performance and completeness of its autonomous driving sensing modules by leveraging Applied Intuition’s autonomous driving software platform and reference vehicles. Applied Intuition said it will also use LG Innotek’s self-driving sensing modules in reference vehicles and simulation tools to further enhance its software.

Headquartered in the United States, Applied Intuition is a global leader in physical AI, building cutting-edge self-driving software and simulation tools. The company counts 18 of the world’s top 20 automakers as customers. Applied Intuition operates an autonomous driving validation reference vehicle that allows us to continually improve our technology using real-world road driving data.

LG Innotek pursued this partnership to gain real-world perceptual performance feedback that is essential to advancing autonomous driving sensing technology. Through this partnership with a major self-driving software company, we aim to expand business opportunities by providing integrated solutions that incorporate software.

In particular, the company plans to expand its partnership with Applied Intuition beyond self-driving to new business areas such as drones and robotics as part of its strategy to secure leadership in the physical AI market.

LG Innotek has established a strong foothold in the self-driving solutions market by combining its proprietary sensing technology with Applied Intuition’s self-driving software expertise.

• Maximizing module performance through automated driving demonstration tests

Under this agreement, LG Innotek will install camera sensing modules in Applied Intuition’s self-driving verification standard vehicles. These reference vehicles will be operated in the United States, Europe, and Japan.

Through these tests, LG Innotek collects extensive feedback of sensor performance across diverse real-world road infrastructure, traffic patterns, and climate conditions in multiple regions of the world. LG Innotek plans to analyze this data to identify defects in sensing modules under diverse environments and improve module performance through targeted technical improvements.

At the same time, LG Innotek will leverage Applied Intuition’s software platform and piloting expertise to conduct self-driving validation tests in South Korea. This approach allows the company to validate its developing technologies, such as convergence sensing solutions that integrate cameras, LiDAR, and radar, through real-world driving tests, significantly shortening development timelines.

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• It is hoped that the development of a self-driving “virtual sensor” will lead to orders for actual products from automakers around the world.

Under the partnership, LG Innotek will integrate its proprietary virtual sensor technology into Applied Intuition’s simulation tools. Virtual sensors, known in the industry as “real sensors,” use digital twin technology to recreate the characteristics of physical sensors in a virtual environment.

LG Innotek is the first company to implement a full sensor suite, including cameras, LiDAR, and radar, within Applied Intuition’s simulation tools.

This allows automakers to generate simulated data that rivals real-world driving data during virtual testing. This allows autonomous driving technology to be tested under conditions that reflect real-world on-road scenarios.

LG Innotek officials said that by using LG Innotek’s virtual sensor during the development stage, automakers will have a better chance of adopting our products for mass production. He further said that through integrated solutions that combine sensors and autonomous driving software early in the development process, automakers can simplify system design and validation, significantly shorten development timelines, and ultimately accelerate the launch of autonomous vehicles.

In the future, LG Innotek and Applied Intuition plan to integrate sensing modules with software solutions and cooperate on joint promotions.

• CEO Moon: “We dream of becoming a world-class leader in the mobility field.”∙“Robotics sensing solutions that lead the era of physical AI”

Earlier this year, LG Innotek CEO Moon Hyuksoo announced his vision to transform the company into a “solution provider.” LG Innotek goes beyond simply supplying parts to provide customers with optimal solutions through manufacturing integration, hardware and software integration, and leveraging external expertise.

This partnership with Applied Intuition exemplifies that strategy. LG Innotek aims to strengthen its data, software and sensor capabilities to become a solution provider for autonomous driving sensing.

“Self-driving cars will scale only if the hardware and software ecosystems evolve together,” said Qasar Younis, co-founder and CEO of Applied Intuition. “Working directly with LG Innotek will make it easier for automakers to evaluate sensors, verify performance in simulations and on real roads, and ultimately move autonomous driving systems from development to production.”

CEO Moon said, “Through this partnership with Applied Intuition, which has world-leading software technology, we will provide our customers with outstanding solutions that set new standards for autonomous driving. This partnership will propel LG Innotek to a world-class position in the field of mobility and robot sensing solutions, making us a leader in the era of physical AI.”