HD Korea Shipbuilding and Offshore Engineering (HD KSOE) and HD Hyundai Robotics have signed a memorandum of understanding with AI company Persona AI and the robotics integration and manufacturing firm Vazil Company to create humanoid robots capable of performing complex welding tasks in shipyard environments.
The initiative aims to deliver prototype humanoids by the end of 2026, with field testing and full commercial deployment scheduled to begin in 2027.
Under the agreement, the four parties will collaborate to develop humanoids equipped with advanced AI and robotic systems capable of high-precision welding. The goal is to enhance productivity and improve workplace safety in shipyards.
Persona AI will lead the development of humanoid hardware and AI-based control and learning algorithms. Vazil Company will develop the welding tools and build the industrial testing environment.
KSOE will support deployment in live shipyard settings and provide field engineering data. HD Hyundai Robotics will contribute welding-path AI training data and performance validation.
"Welding humanoids will not only boost productivity but also significantly reduce the burden on workers and greatly enhance safety," said HD KSOE Senior Vice President Mr. Dong-ju Lee.
"By developing robots optimised 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."
"As heavy industry faces growing labor constraints - especially in high-risk trades like welding - the need for rugged, autonomous humanoid robots is more urgent than ever," added Persona AI CEO Nicolaus Radford.
"This partnership with HD Hyundai and Vazil is more than symbolic -deploying to the shipyard is one of the largest real-world proving grounds for Persona's tough, humanoid robots."
"Unlike conventional robots that focus solely on repetitive tasks, these robots must be able to observe, reason, and make decisions," said HD Hyundai Robotics Vice President Mr. Young-hoon Song.
"By leveraging HD Hyundai Robotics' extensive experience in robotic automated welding and engineering, we aim to develop an innovative humanoid welding solution."
"By developing humanoids capable of precision welding, we will elevate shipyard automation to the next level," added Vazil Company CTO Sungwon Kim.
"We look forward to our manufacturing partnership with Persona AI to help them build and deploy to the Korean markets. This partnership marks a significant milestone in a global industrial robotics collaboration."