HD Hyundai announced on Monday a strategic collaboration with HD Korea Shipbuilding & Offshore Engineering, HD Hyundai Robotics, and US-based robotics innovator Persona AI to jointly develop and commercialize advanced welding humanoid robots specifically designed for shipyard applications.
The official signing ceremony took place at the HD Hyundai Global R&D Center located in Pangyo, Gyeonggi Province. Key figures present at the event included Lee Dong-ju, Head of the Manufacturing Innovation Lab at HD Korea Shipbuilding & Offshore Engineering; Song Young-hoon, Head of Solution Development at HD Hyundai Robotics; and Nick Radford, CEO of Persona AI.
This agreement builds upon a prior partnership established in May 2025, which followed highly encouraging evaluations of a prototype’s technical capabilities and its practical usability within actual shipyard environments.
According to the terms of the collaborative agreement, HD Korea Shipbuilding & Offshore Engineering will spearhead the development of artificial intelligence-powered welding training systems. These systems will leverage real-world field data and be integrated directly into shipbuilding processes. HD Hyundai Robotics will take the lead in system integration, encompassing quality analysis, advanced control technologies, and rigorous on-site testing.
Persona AI will be responsible for developing a cutting-edge bipedal humanoid platform engineered for stable and reliable movement within the complex and challenging terrains of shipyard environments.
The collective goal of the partnership is to create humanoid robots capable of executing highly skilled tasks such as welding, demonstrating exceptional mobility, utilizing advanced perception capabilities, and exhibiting precise control. The companies plan to gradually introduce these robots across various aspects of shipyard operations.
A primary area of focus will be the development of precision control technology. This technology aims to replicate the intricate workflows of highly experienced welders, employing physical AI-based welding systems to meet the demanding and exacting standards of shipbuilding.
“These specialized shipyard humanoids will serve as the cornerstone of future smart shipyards, significantly enhancing worker safety and boosting overall productivity,” stated an HD Hyundai official.
“By deploying humanoids across shipbuilding sites, we are aiming to usher in a new era of innovation and set a new benchmark within the industry.”
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