HD Hyundai To Deploy Welding Humanoid Robots In Korean Shipyards By 2027

South Korean shipbuilding giant HD Hyundai has announced a major collaboration to develop humanoid robots capable of performing complex welding tasks in shipyards. This is Korea’s first initiative to introduce welding humanoids into shipbuilding.

On May 7, 2025, HD Korea Shipbuilding & Offshore Engineering (HD KSOE) and HD Hyundai Robotics signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with US-based Persona AI and robotics integration company Vazil Company.

The agreement was signed during a formal ceremony held in Houston, Texas. The four companies will work together to build humanoid robots that can carry out high-precision welding in live shipyard environments.

The aim is to improve productivity, reduce worker strain, and increase safety in areas where labour shortages and workplace risks are becoming a concern.

Under this agreement, each partner will take on specific roles:

Persona AI will lead the development of the humanoid robots, focusing on both hardware and software, including advanced AI control systems and learning algorithms.

Vazil Company will design and supply specialised welding tools and create an industrial testing setup where the robots can be trained and evaluated.

HD KSOE will support real-world deployment of these humanoids in shipyards it operates and provide field engineering data to guide development.

HD Hyundai Robotics will contribute welding-path data needed to train the robots and help verify their performance through tests.

This initiative plans to complete the first humanoid prototypes by the end of 2026. After that, testing in actual shipyard environments will begin, leading to full-scale commercial use starting in 2027.

The project is being launched as part of efforts to deal with rising labour challenges in industries like shipbuilding, where skilled trades such as welding are both dangerous and increasingly difficult to staff.

HD KSOE believes these humanoids will set a new standard in automation. Company representatives shared that the robots are expected to raise productivity and reduce physical demands on human workers.

The company aims to build a smart shipyard where humans and robots work together safely and efficiently.

HD Hyundai Robotics pointed out that these humanoids are unlike regular industrial robots. They are being designed to not only repeat tasks but to observe, understand, and make decisions during welding operations.

The company said its experience in robotic welding and engineering would help build an innovative and intelligent welding robot.

Persona AI described this collaboration as an important step in solving real-world industrial problems. According to the company, heavy industries like shipbuilding need robust and autonomous robots more than ever, and shipyards offer an ideal environment to test the durability and intelligence of humanoid systems.

Vazil Company shared that developing humanoid robots with high welding precision is expected to take shipyard automation to a new level. The firm said it looks forward to working closely with Persona AI to manufacture and bring those robots to Korean shipyards.

Reference: prnewswire

Source: Maritime Shipping News