ABS Plans to Test Out a Humanoid Robot for Classification
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Houston-based class society ABS has announced a new collaboration with robotics company Persona AI to develop a humanoid robot for shipyard uses. Robotic systems offer a way to perform the same task with fewer workers, freeing up scarce personnel for other jobs.<\/p>\n
ABS’ plan for this new technology is to use robotically-collected data for classification during ship construction, enabling remote survey techniques. The trial will help develop new class standards for the type and quality of data collected by robots.\u00a0<\/p>\n
“This marks a defining moment for the shipbuilding industry,\u201d said Nic Radford, CEO and Co-Founder of Persona AI. \u201cPartnering with ABS, the global authority on maritime standards, demonstrates that humanoid robotics are no longer a distant concept but on a path toward certified reality.”<\/p>\n
A shipyard is a challenging work environment, and doubly so for robots. As projects ebb and flow, the layout of the yard changes dynamically: staging areas and workspaces are constantly shifting as materials and partially completed blocks are moved through the facility. This bears little resemblance to assembly-line industries like auto manufacturing, where robotic arms and welders can be programmed to work on the same objects in the same sequence day after day.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Robotic work in shipbuilding tends towards repeatable tasks, like CNC cutting and robotic panel welding. Humanoid robot applications are fewer, but are gaining traction – notably in Korea, where automation is a key part of the business model. HD Hyundai Samho is working with a German-made humanoid robot, Neura’s 4NE1, an AI-powered system built to step in “when skilled workers are hard to find” for industrial environments. Neura says that it is a “cognitive robot” that can learn from its surroundings and navigate complex situations.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Earlier in the year, HD KSOE announced a partnership Vazil Company and Persona AI – the same firm working with ABS – to create a humanoid welding robot. The first prototypes are due at the end of 2026, with plans for field testing and full commercial deployment in 2027.\u00a0
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