CES, the world’s largest technology show, opened on January 5, 2022.
Though the event returned as an offline event for the first time in two years, the spread of the Omicron Covid-19 variant had caused many American tech giants to change course and attend virtually. Among these companies were Microsoft, Google, Amazon, and Meta (Facebook). Accordingly, the in-person presence of Korean companies was especially highlighted at CES 2022.
The Consumer Technology Association hosted the event in Las Vegas, from January 5 to January 7, 2022 (local time). Though it was originally scheduled to run through January 8, the closing date was moved up in light of the pandemic.
The number of attending companies, at around 2200, was down by half from the pre-pandemic CES of 2020. On the other hand, Korean companies made their largest ever appearance, with over 500 exhibitors. This was an increase of around 29% from 390 in 2020. Not only the automobile industry but also the hollow industry attended this year’s CES to showcase advanced technologies.
◆Hyundai Motors, Robotics, and Future Mobility Technology.
At CES 2022, Hyundai Motor Group Chairman Chung Eui-sun presented a vision for robotics under the theme of “Expanding Human Reach” and explained new concept robots. Chairman Chung had shown a demonstrable interest in the robotics industry of late; in December of last year, he acquired an 80% stake in Boston Dynamics, the world’s top robot company, for about 1 trillion won.
Hyundai Motor unveiled “Mobility of Things (MoT)”, which gives mobility to all objects, as well as “Plug & Drive (PnD) modules” based on core robotics technology to realize the ecosystem for the first time.
It also introduced “MobED”, an innovative small mobility platform. MobED combines Hyundai Motor Group’s robotics technology to drive objects freely in complex urban environments. It can be used for such various purposes as strollers, courier and cargo transportation, and special filming.
M.Vision POP & M.Vision 2GO, a city-sharing mobility concept, was also unveiled for the first time to global visitors. Under the theme of Joyful Life in M.VISION Town, Hyundai Mobis delivers Mobis’ technology and vision in a new space that transcends Metabus.
Model Solutions, a total solutions company affiliated with Korea & Company Group (Hankook Tire Group), participated for the second consecutive year following CES 2021. Model Solutions is an innovative company that provides total solutions from design to mass production. It also operates a hardware accelerator program that supports planning, design, development, prototypes, and mass production for start-up companies with future-oriented and creative ideas.
Hyundai Heavy Industries Group participated in CES for the first time. Chung Ki-sun, president of Hyundai Heavy Industries Holdings, revealed his blueprint for the company’s future. Avikus, a subsidiary of Hyundai Heavy Industries, presented a vision of how its autonomous operation technology can transform the marine mobility sector.
Korea Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering, a holding company in the shipbuilding sector, introduced its marine hydrogen value chain to cope with the climate change crisis.
Clue Insights, Hyundai Doosan Infracore’s big data-based equipment management solution developer, presented plans for a safe and efficient future construction site.
Also participating in the booth on site was Hyundai Genuine, the holding company of Korea Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering and Construction Machinery.
◆ Doosan Group celebrated its second consecutive year of participation at CES.
Doosan, Doosan Heavy Industries & Construction, Doosan Bobcat, Doosan Pure Cell, Doosan Industrial Vehicle, Doosan Robotics, and Doosan Mobility Innovation presented at CES 2022. Chairman Park Jung-won did not attend in person, in light of the spread of the Omicron variant.
This year, Doosan set up a 450 m2 booth in the West Hall to join the congregation of other companies in the automobile and autonomous vehicle industries. The booth allowed visitors to experience how advanced future technologies could be applied to daily life.
At the centre of the booth was a 3.5-meter-high model of the Tri-Gen system. Tri-Gen, currently being developed by Doosan Pure Cell, is a system that uses fuel cells to produce hydrogen, electricity, and heat at the same time.
Doosan Heavy Industries & Construction also presented its hydrogen utilization technology. It introduced the process of electrolyzing water with electricity produced by offshore wind turbines, producing green hydrogen and hydrogenating waste resources.
Doosan Robotics presented various ways in which robots could help with daily life activities and entertainment.
Doosan Bobcat held a media day event at the Mandalay Bay Convention Center in Las Vegas on the 4th, a day before the opening of CES. Here, they unveiled the “All-Electric” compact track loader T7X for the first time.
POSCO Group introduced POSCO’s venture platform and venture companies fostered by POSCO. POSCO set up a joint exhibition hall with POSTECH and Pohang Institute of Industrial Science (RIST) to introduce a POSCO-type venture platform that discovers and invests in new growth projects, using POSCO’s unique industry, academia, and research infrastructure. It also set up an exhibition hall with promising venture companies discovered through POSCO Idea MarketPlace (IMP).
A total of 13 corporate briefing sessions were also held, including six venture companies fostered by POSCO, two venture companies fostering POSCO International, and five venture companies starting POSTECH.
Sam Kim
Asia Journal
