Development Partnership MOU Signed with Rainbow Robotics
Accelerating the Transition to a Smart Shipyard... Productivity Expected to Rise
Expanding Automation Across All Processes Including Welding, Painting, and Inspection
Samsung Heavy Industries has embarked on advancing its robotics technology to strengthen the future competitiveness of the shipbuilding industry. The company is partnering with collaborative robot specialist Rainbow Robotics to begin developing robots tailored for shipbuilding sites.
On October 24, Samsung Heavy Industries announced that it had signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Rainbow Robotics for the “development and commercialization of shipbuilding robots.” The collaboration will begin with the development of AI-powered welding robots based on collaborative robots, and will gradually expand to include mobile dual-arm robots and quadruped robots.
Vice President Jinmo Kim of Samsung Heavy Industries (left) and CEO Jungho Lee of Rainbow Robotics signed a joint development MOU for shipbuilding robots on the 23rd. Samsung Heavy Industries
Under this agreement, Samsung Heavy Industries will provide its accumulated operational data from welding robots and an environment for demonstration testing. Rainbow Robotics will be responsible for developing the robot hardware and providing technical support. The two companies will first focus on making the robots lighter to enhance field usability, while jointly developing mobile robots capable of performing complex tasks such as welding curved ship blocks from within the blocks themselves.
Currently, Samsung Heavy Industries has independently developed and operates approximately 90 types of automated equipment and robots for tasks such as block welding and painting, LNG carrier cargo hold welding, and pipe inspection. Notably, the company has completed the unmanned system for its steel cutting plant and, since last month, has implemented a 24-hour operation system, further raising the level of production automation.
Rainbow Robotics' previously developed quadruped robot (from left), mobile dual-arm robot, and collaborative robot. Samsung Heavy Industries
Through this collaboration, Samsung Heavy Industries expects to achieve results in several areas: verifying the reliability and expanding the practicality of robot platform technology; cultivating specialized personnel in automation; and securing industrial property rights related to automation technology. Based on these achievements, the company plans to accelerate its transition to a “smart shipyard.”
Jinmo Kim, Executive Vice President and Head of Future Business Development at Samsung Heavy Industries, stated, “Through our partnership with Rainbow Robotics, Samsung Heavy Industries’ automation technology and competitiveness in shipbuilding will take a significant leap forward. We will actively expand the application of AI and robotics technology and drive commercialization efforts.”
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