Humanoid Robots To Work As Welders In Shipyards Along With Human Workers

Generative Bionics, an Italian robotics company, is partnering with shipbuilder Fincantieri to build robots that can work in shipyards as welders.

This would ensure human safety, efficiency, and enhance production quality at the shipyards.

Generative Bionics will develop the robot, and it will be integrated with AI perception, the ability to see, advanced manipulation, and other features.

It will monitor the welding process, optimise locomotion for operating in complex environments, and handle different tasks at the same time.

With the use of such humanoid robots, the companies aim to boost worker safety in shipyards by delegating dangerous tasks to these machines, foster better worker collaboration and maintain compliance with international laws regarding shipbuilding.

The partnership will be for 4 years, in which both companies will focus on developing the tech, as initial tests are expected by the end of this year.

Operational functionality is expected to be achieved in the first two years.

Tests will be conducted at Fincantieri’s Sestri Ponente shipyard.

Fincantieri decided to get into AI systems, thanks to its new Industrial Plan. Production is becoming complicated, and there is a shortage of skilled workers. The company wishes to address both these issues through its AI systems.

“Advanced robotics and artificial intelligence applied to industrial processes represent a strategic lever for the evolution of shipbuilding and for the competitiveness of the European industrial system,” Fincantieri CEO/GM Pierroberto Folgiero said.

Source: Maritime Shipping News