South Korea’s leading shipbuilding companies are embracing humanoid robotics to reshape one of the most physically demanding sectors in the world. Through a series of strategic partnerships with global tech innovators, companies like HD Hyundai Robotics and HD Hyundai Samho are integrating advanced robots into their shipyards.
A surprising twist in this development is that Hyundai, despite owning robotics pioneer Boston Dynamics and having a powerful internal automation division, has chosen to collaborate with Germany’s Neura Robotics rather than using its own robotic platforms. The partnership will trial Neura’s humanoid robot, known as 4NE1, in real-world shipbuilding scenarios, where the machines will tackle complex welding and assembly operations.
Neura Robotics made the intent behind the collaboration clear, stating, “The goal of this strategic partnership is clear: together, we will develop and test specialized quadruped and humanoid robots under real-world conditions. Our shared vision is to make shipbuilding more efficient, safer, and more productive.” These trials have already begun at Hyundai’s shipyards in Korea, with robots being deployed for intricate industrial tasks.
Neura’s 4NE1 robot brings cognitive robotics into the fold, with adaptive learning features designed to meet the challenges of a tough industrial environment. HD Hyundai Samho is providing the operational testing grounds, offering a hands-on environment to examine how these robots perform in actual shipyard conditions. At the same time, HD Hyundai Robotics is lending its expertise in welding automation. According to The Robot Report, the company will support the partnership by contributing welding path data, monitoring the robots’ performance, and integrating the systems into broader industrial workflows.
This partnership was formally announced during the Automatica trade fair held in Munich in June 2025, signaling a growing interest in deploying humanoid and quadruped robots in heavy industries like shipbuilding. Neura emphasized that combining the expertise of all three partners would help validate whether intelligent robots can truly enhance efficiency, safety, and productivity on the shop floor. The company added that the initiative arrives at a crucial time when the shipbuilding industry is facing an increasing shortage of skilled labor.
But Neura isn’t the only player entering Korea’s shipyards. In a separate yet parallel initiative, U.S.-based Persona AI announced a partnership in May 2025 with HD Korea Shipbuilding & Offshore Engineering, HD Hyundai Robotics, and South Korean firm Vazil. This alliance aims to develop and deploy humanoid welding robots by 2027. These robots will be specifically designed for the complex and hazardous conditions found in shipyards.
Under this collaboration, Persona AI will take the lead on developing both the humanoid hardware and the AI-based control systems that will guide them. Vazil is tasked with designing specialized welding tools and constructing an industrial test site. HD Korea Shipbuilding & Offshore Engineering will manage the actual deployment of these systems in operational environments, while HD Hyundai Robotics will continue providing the AI data needed to train the robots and assess their real-world capabilities.
A functional prototype is expected by the end of 2026, with full-scale deployment to follow in 2027.