NEWS

HD Hyundai is partnering with artificial intelligence (AI) and robotics specialists to develop Korea’s first welding humanoid robot.

HD Korea Shipbuilding & Offshore Engineering (HDKSOE) and HD Hyundai Robotics announced on May 8 that they have signed an MOU in Houston, USA, with Persona AI, an AI-based humanoid robot specialist, and VAZIL COMPANY, a robot engineering firm, for the “development of humanoids for shipyard welding.”

The signing ceremony was attended by Lee Dong-joo, Head of the Manufacturing Innovation Lab at HDKSOE; Song Young-hoon, Head of the Solutions Division at HD Hyundai Robotics; Nicolaus (Nick) Radford, CEO of Persona AI; and Kim Sung-won, CTO of VAZIL COMPANY, among others.

Under the agreement, the participating companies plan to develop humanoids capable of performing precision welding tasks using AI and robotics technologies, thereby boosting productivity at shipyards and improving worker safety.

HD Hyundai Robotics will provide AI-based welding automation technology and will be responsible for verifying robot performance. HDKSOE will test the humanoids in actual shipyard environments and provide data and technical support needed for field deployment.

Persona AI will develop the humanoid hardware as well as AI-based robot control and learning algorithms. VAZIL COMPANY will develop the welding tools to be mounted on the humanoid and build the testbed environment.

The partners aim to complete prototype development by 2026 and move on to full-scale on-site demonstrations and commercialization starting in 2027.

A representative from HD Hyundai said, “Welding humanoids will not only enhance productivity, but also significantly reduce workers’ physical burden and dramatically improve safety. By developing humanoids optimized for shipyard operations, we will create a new paradigm in shipbuilding automation.”

Nick Radford, CEO of Persona AI, said, “Applying AI technologies to core processes in shipbuilding is a highly meaningful challenge. Our goal is to build a smart shipyard environment where humans and robots collaborate, using intelligent robotics technologies.”

Kim Sung-won, CTO of VAZIL COMPANY, also commented, “We will develop humanoids capable of precision welding and help elevate the level of automation in the shipbuilding industry to a new height.”