Hankook & Company, the parent firm of South Korea’s largest tyre manufacturer Hankook Tire & Technology, has revealed a strategic collaboration with U.S.-based artificial intelligence startup MakinaRocks to innovate tyre design technology through the use of AI.
The partnership between the two companies is set to focus on the creation of an AI-driven model that can autonomously design tyre tread patterns. This agreement follows MakinaRocks’ recent victory in a technology innovation contest hosted by Hankook in July, which aimed to explore the potential of generative AI in tyre design.
In a statement, Hankook confirmed the signing of the contract with MakinaRocks to develop the AI model, emphasizing that the objective is to automate the creation of tyre tread designs that balance both performance and aesthetic appeal.
The company further outlined its plan to foster an environment where AI could be trained to generate tyre patterns that meet both functional and design standards. By standardizing and quantifying pattern images, alongside developing new methods to gather external data, Hankook hopes to enhance the capabilities of AI in tyre design.
Additionally, the firm aims to establish a comprehensive database of tyre patterns. This integrated system will be accessible to Hankook’s R&D, design, and marketing teams, with the goal of optimizing and streamlining product development processes.
This initiative marks a significant step in Hankook’s efforts to leverage cutting-edge AI technology to lead advancements in the tyre manufacturing industry.