HD Korea Shipbuilding & Offshore Engineering (HD KSOE) and HD Hyundai Robotics have officially signed a groundbreaking Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Persona AI, a pioneer in embodied artificial intelligence, and Vazil Company, a robotics integration and manufacturing firm. The agreement, formalized during a ceremony in Houston, marks the beginning of a collaborative initiative to develop humanoid welding robots tailored for complex tasks in shipyard environments.
This strategic alliance is poised to redefine automation in shipbuilding by introducing human-like robots capable of high-precision welding—significantly boosting operational efficiency and workplace safety. The joint development program will produce prototype humanoids by late 2026, with live field testing and commercial deployment expected to commence in 2027.
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Under the terms of the MOU, each partner brings specialized expertise to the table:
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Persona AI will spearhead the creation of the humanoid form factor and design AI-powered control systems and learning algorithms.
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Vazil Company will be responsible for developing welding tools and setting up industrial-grade testing environments.
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HD KSOE will support real-world deployment within its shipyards and contribute operational engineering data for performance refinement.
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HD Hyundai Robotics will provide key AI training datasets focused on welding paths and lead system performance evaluations.
“Welding humanoids will not only boost productivity but also significantly reduce the burden on workers and greatly enhance safety. 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,” said Mr. Dong-ju Lee, Senior Vice President, HD KSOE.
As global labor shortages impact heavy industries, the demand for intelligent, autonomous robotics continues to rise-particularly in physically demanding and hazardous trades such as welding.
“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. 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,” said Nicolaus Radford, CEO, Persona AI.
“Unlike conventional robots that focus solely on repetitive tasks, these robots must be able to observe, reason, and make decisions. By leveraging HD Hyundai Robotics’ extensive experience in robotic automated welding and engineering, we aim to develop an innovative humanoid welding solution,” added Mr. Young-hoon Song, Vice President, HD Hyundai Robotics.