HD Hyundai has widened its humanoid robot programme for shipyards through a new joint development agreement with HD Korea Shipbuilding & Offshore Engineering, HD Hyundai Robotics and U.S.-based Persona AI. The project targets welding automation in shipyard environments and is set to move forward with phased deployment across production sites.
The agreement was signed on 23 March at the HD Hyundai Global R&D Center in South Korea. It follows an earlier partnership formed in May 2025 after evaluations of a humanoid prototype’s technical feasibility and site applicability.
Under the new arrangement, HD Korea Shipbuilding & Offshore Engineering will develop AI-based welding training systems using shipyard operating data and apply them to production workflows. HD Hyundai Robotics will oversee system integration, including welding quality analysis, control technologies and field testing. Persona AI will develop a bipedal humanoid platform designed for shipyard conditions.
The partners aim to build robots capable of handling welding, mobility, perception and precision control. Deployment is planned to proceed in stages across shipbuilding operations.
The programme comes as heavy industry faces labour shortages, particularly in high-risk work such as welding. The project is focused on developing humanoid systems that can operate in demanding shipyard environments and support automation in key processes.
A prototype is targeted for completion by late 2026, with field testing to follow. Commercial deployment is planned for 2027.
