Pioneering Shipbuilding Automation with Humanoids
Enhancing Production Efficiency and Safety... Commercialization Set for 2027
HD Hyundai is partnering with a company specializing in artificial intelligence (AI)-based robotics technology to embark on the development of the nation’s first welding humanoid robot.
On May 8, HD Hyundai Heavy Industries and HD Hyundai Robotics announced that they had signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) in Houston, USA, with Persona AI, an AI-based humanoid robotics company, and Basil Company, a robotics engineering firm, to jointly develop humanoid robots for shipbuilding welding. Under this agreement, the participating companies plan to leverage AI and robotics technology to develop humanoids capable of precision welding, thereby improving production efficiency at shipyards and enhancing worker safety.
HD Hyundai Heavy Industries and HD Hyundai Robotics signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) for the development of humanoid robots for shipbuilding welding with Persona AI and Basil Company in Houston, USA. From the second person on the right in the photo: Lee Dongju, Head of Manufacturing Innovation Lab at HD Hyundai Heavy Industries; Head of Solutions Division at HD Hyundai Robotics; Nick Radford, CEO of Persona AI; Kim Sungwon, CTO of Basil Company. Photo by HD Hyundai.
Each company has a specific role: HD Hyundai Robotics will provide AI-based welding automation technology and oversee robot performance verification. HD Hyundai Heavy Industries will test the humanoid robots in actual shipyard environments and provide data and technical support for on-site application. Persona AI will be responsible for developing humanoid hardware, as well as AI-based robot control and learning algorithms. Basil Company will develop welding tools to be mounted on the humanoids and build the testbed.
The participating companies aim to complete prototype development by next year and begin full-scale field demonstrations and commercialization starting in 2027. An HD Hyundai representative stated, "Welding humanoid robots will not only improve productivity but also significantly reduce the burden on workers and dramatically enhance safety. By realizing humanoids optimized for shipyard operations, we aim to create a new paradigm for automation in the shipbuilding industry."
Nick Radford, CEO of Persona AI, commented, "Applying AI technology to the core processes of shipbuilding is a highly meaningful challenge. Our goal is to establish a smart shipyard environment where humans and robots collaborate by utilizing intelligent robotics technology." Kim Sungwon, CTO of Basil Company, added, "By developing humanoids capable of precision welding, we will take shipbuilding automation to the next level."
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