Hankook Tire’s Virtual Compound Design system recognized by Journey to Automation Awards

• Received “Highly Commended” mark under Tire Manufacture – Producer category
• Development of VCD system demonstrates Hankook Tire’s commitment to innovation in technology and pursuit of digital transformation

Seoul, Korea, October 6, 2020 – Global leading tire maker Hankook Tire received “Highly Commended” under the Tire Manufacture - Producer category at the Journey to Automation Awards (J2A Awards).

Organized by European Rubber Journal (ERJ), one of the world’s leading publications in the automotive industry, Journey to Automation Awards (J2A Awards) recognizes tire brands’ efforts on the topic of automation and digital transformation. In its inaugural ceremony, Hankook Tire was recognized for its Virtual Compound Design (VCD) system that predicts the characteristics of tire compounds and finds an optimal combination through artificial intelligence (AI) analysis.

Setting foot in 2015, the VCD system was developed as a project to lay the foundation for Artificial Intelligence-driven tire development. Hankook collected various data from its previous researches on AI tires and performed a series of analysis to see if it could be used as a “big data" and if AI could be applied.

In the following years, Hankook collaborated with prestigious Korea Advanced Institute of Science & Technology (KAIST) to advance the AI model the company created. The partnership led to an improvement in accuracy by applying new AI technology such as auto machine learning (Auto-ML) and auto encoder. This was followed by an integration of Amazon Web Services into all processes, enabling Hankook to store, process, and analyze huge amounts of data such as that gathered from the VCD system. Hankook plans to gradually integrate the AI system into its compound development process starting next year and complete the virtual compound design technology by 2023.

Bonhee Ku, Senior Vice President and CTO of Hankook Tire & Technology Co.,Ltd. said, “We are honored to have been recognized for the challenge that we have been taking to change the future of mobility and create endless possibilities through digital transformation. We believe that our commitment to advance this new endeavor will not only transform how the tires will be produced in the future but set a new paradigm for the entire automotive industry.”

Aside from the VCD system, Hankook has developed a series of AI-based technologies including “Automatic Inspection Process” based on AI and digital sensor and a facility abnormality prediction system CMS+ (Hankook Condition Monitoring System Plus) in line with the company’s commitment to lead the topic of digital transformation in the automotive industry. Hankook also announced earlier this month that the company is collaborating with SK Planet, Korea’s leading Data & Tech Company, to jointly develop a road risk detection solution aimed to create a safer driving experience.