HD Hyundai to develop AI humanoid for shipyard welding

Lim Jae-seong 2025. 5. 8. 11:49
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Song Young-hoon (second from right), head of the Solution Division at HD Hyundai Robotics; Lee Dong-ju (third from right), head of the Manufacturing Innovation Laboratory at HD KSOE; Nicolaus Radford (fourth from right), CEO of Persona AI; and Kim Sung-won (fifth from right), CTO of Vazil Company, hold certificates of partnership after signing the agreement in Houston. (HD Hyundai)

Song Young-hoon (second from right), head of the Solution Division at HD Hyundai Robotics; Lee Dong-ju (third from right), head of the Manufacturing Innovation Laboratory at HD KSOE; Nicolaus Radford (fourth from right), CEO of Persona AI; and Kim Sung-won (fifth from right), CTO of Vazil Company, hold certificates of partnership after signing the agreement in Houston. (HD Hyundai)

HD Hyundai announced Thursday that its subsidiaries have partnered with robotics companies to develop an artificial intelligence-powered humanoid robot for welding, aiming to improve both efficiency and safety in the essential yet hazardous process of shipbuilding.

According to the company, HD Korea Shipbuilding & Offshore Engineering, the shipbuilding arm of HD Hyundai, and HD Hyundai Robotics recently signed a strategic partnership in Houston, Texas, with two firms: Persona AI, a US-based robotics startup, and Vazil Company, a Korean automation solution provider.

Under the agreement, HD Hyundai Robotics will provide AI-based welding automation solutions, while HD KSOE will contribute data and technical expertise to ensure the robot operates effectively in real shipyard environments, HD Hyundai said. The shipbuilder will also conduct performance validation.

Persona AI will be responsible for developing the humanoid’s hardware, along with AI-powered control and learning algorithms, while Vazil Company will focus on designing and building the robot’s welding tools.

The partnership aims to complete a prototype by 2026, with testing at the real yard and commercialization beginning in 2027.

"Welding humanoids will not only boost productivity but also significantly reduce the burden on workers and greatly enhance safety," said Lee Dong-ju, head of the manufacturing innovation laboratory at HD KSOE.

"By developing robots optimized for shipyard tasks, we aim to set a new paradigm in shipbuilding automation. Our goal is a smart shipyard where humans and intelligent robots collaborate seamlessly."

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