Editor: Lin Fengyu
Mind Map: Lin Zhiyuan
-First published on: Humanoid Era Network (www.humanoidera.news)-
HD Hyundai Heavy Industries Group has partnered with Persona AI to develop humanoid welding robots for shipyards.
On July 16, 2025, during a signing ceremony held in Houston, Texas, the shipbuilding division of HD Hyundai announced a significant collaboration with AI research company Persona AI and robotics integration and manufacturing company Vazil Company. This partnership aims to jointly develop humanoid robots capable of performing complex welding tasks, ushering in a new era of human-robot collaboration in shipyard environments. According to the agreement, a prototype robot is expected to be launched by the end of 2026, with on-site testing and commercialization set to begin in 2027.
According to the collaboration agreement, each party will leverage its core strengths to advance the development and implementation of humanoid welding robots. Persona AI will be responsible for the development of the robot’s hardware, AI-based control systems, and learning algorithms; Vazil Company will design the welding tools and build the industrial testing environment; HD KSOE (the shipbuilding division of Hyundai Heavy Industries Group) will provide on-site deployment support and engineering data; while HD Hyundai Robotics will supply AI training data for welding paths and performance validation.
The welding robot is designed to utilize cutting-edge AI and robotics technology to achieve high-precision welding operations, not only enhancing shipbuilding efficiency but also significantly improving worker safety levels. By creating engineering solutions tailored for shipyard environments, this collaboration aims to set a new benchmark for shipyard automation.
Dong-ju Lee, Senior Vice President of HD KSOE, stated: “Humanoid welding robots will not only greatly enhance production efficiency but also reduce the labor burden on workers and significantly improve operational safety. Our ultimate goal is to achieve smart shipyards where humans and intelligent robots collaborate seamlessly through the development of robots optimized for shipyard tasks.”
Nicolaus Radford, CEO of Persona AI, expressed confidence in the future: “As heavy industry faces increasingly severe labor shortages, especially in high-risk areas like welding, durable and autonomous humanoid robots are more important than ever. This collaboration with HD Hyundai and Vazil is not only symbolically significant but also a real-world deep testâshipyard environments are one of the most practical settings for our robust humanoid robots.”
Meanwhile, Young-hoon Song, Vice President of HD Hyundai Robotics, emphasized: “Unlike traditional robots that focus on repetitive tasks, these humanoid robots need to possess the ability to observe, reason, and make decisions. With HD Hyundai Robotics’ extensive experience in welding automation and engineering, we look forward to developing innovative welding solutions.”
Sungwon Kim, Chief Technology Officer of Vazil Company, stated: “By developing humanoid robots capable of performing precision welding tasks, we will elevate shipyard automation to a new level. We look forward to collaborating with Persona AI to create and deploy this advanced technology in the South Korean market.”
This collaboration not only marks a significant advancement for HD Hyundai Heavy Industries Group and Persona AI in the global industrial robotics field but also signifies a new phase in the practical application of humanoid robot technology. By fully integrating AI, robotics technology, and industrial manufacturing capabilities, this project will set an important technological benchmark for the global heavy industry sector.
As humanoid robot technology continues to break through, the future smart shipyard is no longer a science fiction story but a blueprint that is being realized.
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