Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) is embarking on the development of on-device artificial intelligence (AI) semiconductors for high-speed unmanned vehicles.
On the 20th, KAI signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) for cooperation in K-on-device AI semiconductor technology development with the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy, the Korea Evaluation Institute of Industrial Technology (KEIT), the Korea Semiconductor Industry Association, the Korea Fabless Industry Association, Hyundai Motor, LG Electronics, Doosan Robotics, and Daedong to seize future new markets and strengthen domestic fabless capabilities.
The signing ceremony held at the Seoul Westin Chosun Hotel was attended by Ahn Duk-geun, Minister of Trade, Industry and Energy; Kim Ji-hong, head of KAI Future Convergence Technology Institute; Jo Hwi-jae, vice president of LG Electronics; and other key figures from demand corporations and associations.
AI semiconductors refer to semiconductors that are mounted on devices and capable of AI inferencing operations independently without connection to the cloud or servers. Their strengths include real-time computation, high security, low network dependency, and low power consumption. In particular, AI semiconductors for defense require high security and reliability.
KAI will apply AI semiconductors to manned-unmanned hybrid systems. Using defense-grade AI semiconductors, it plans to develop an autonomous control system (ACS) in on-device form and integrate AI pilot technology into adaptable aerial platforms (AAP) and communication satellites for manned-unmanned hybrid systems. There are plans to equip the domestically produced supersonic advanced trainer T-50 and multipurpose fighter FA-50 with manned-unmanned hybrid capabilities.