LG Innotek is participating in a national project to establish an artificial intelligence (AI) autonomous manufacturing system at its production line in Gumi, North Gyeongsang Province. The initiative aims to automate the camera module production process while creating synergies with the group's smart factory projects.
According to the government and industry sources on October 21, LG Innotek has been selected as the target company in the optical module sector for the Ministry of Trade's '2026 AI Factory Leading Project.' Nearly half of the total project budget of 34.6 billion won secured by Gumi City, approximately 15.9 billion won, will be allocated to LG Innotek's autonomous manufacturing project for optical modules.
LG Innotek plans to integrate 'self-judging AI' into its camera module production line, which has traditionally relied on human senses, to enhance process intelligence. The company intends to implement an unmanned production line by 2029 that utilizes AI and robotics in the curing process, which involves adhering and drying components, to detect subtle equipment anomalies in advance and autonomously control the process.
The curing process is considered the biggest challenge in mass-producing camera modules. As products become thinner and more advanced, the precision required for adhering and drying components significantly impacts quality, making them susceptible to defects from temperature fluctuations or minor vibrations. The introduction of an AI autonomous manufacturing system is expected to correct equipment anomalies in real-time, significantly reducing the ramp-up time for achieving stable yields during the initial production of new products.
There are also expectations for synergistic effects with the group's smart factory solutions. In the long term, LG Innotek plans to use the process data and results from the autonomous manufacturing system tested in Gumi as a reference for the group's manufacturing AI solutions.
An industry insider stated, "This will not only lay the foundation for a national AI autonomous manufacturing ecosystem but also elevate the technological research and process intelligence across the region's advanced industries."
* This article has been translated by AI.
Copyright ⓒ Aju Press All rights reserved.