Hyundai tests German humanoid robot Neura 4NE1 in shipbuilding
Hyundai wants to work with German robotics company Neura Robotics to make their robots suitable for heavy and risky work in shipbuilding.
Four-legged robots work together on a shipyard with a humanoid robot (right in the picture), which is currently busy welding.
(Image: Neura Robotics)
HD Hyundai Samho and HD Hyundai Robotics have entered into a strategic partnership with German robotics company Neura Robotics. Hyundai intends to initially test Neura's humanoid robot 4NE1 alongside four-legged robots in shipbuilding. The robot will perform dangerous welding and assembly work at Hyundai shipyards in South Korea.
The agreement provides for the integration of Neura's 4NE1 humanoid robot into real shipyard environments. This is intended to increase operational efficiency, productivity, and safety. 4NE1 will primarily take on dangerous tasks, thereby relieving and protecting human employees. These tasks mainly involve welding work, where accidents occur time and again. In addition, there is heavy assembly work, which can also be dangerous. The robot is also intended to help prevent a shortage of skilled workers.
The humanoid 4NE1 is also designed to perform complex tasks. To this end, it has cognitive abilities and is capable of adaptive learning. The robot will initially be integrated into the shipyard's working environment on a trial basis. Hyundai will set up the necessary practical test environments at its shipbuilding facilities.
Robust robot hardware required
The conditions under which the humanoid robot has to perform its duties are harsh. In addition, there are strict regulations for shipbuilding that must be strictly adhered to. Hyundai intends to combine the expertise of the three companies to make the 4NE1 suitable for shipbuilding. This includes, for example, making the robot's hardware more robust. It also includes AI-based control systems that enable high-precision, autonomous welding.
However, suitable welding equipment that can be operated by robots still needs to be designed. In addition, AI training data must be created for the production of correct welding paths and the robots must be trained accordingly. The partners plan to have a first prototype ready by the end of 2026. Field tests will then take place. Commercial use could follow as early as 2027.
Neura Robotics is not the only company looking to get its humanoid robots up and running for use in shipbuilding. US robotics company Persona AI also wants to supply humanoid welding robots to South Korea. Korea Shipbuilding & Offshore Engineering and HD Hyundai Robotics are among the companies involved in the project.
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It is unclear why Hyundai is not relying on the humanoid Atlas robot from its subsidiary Boston Dynamics. Apparently, the Atlas robots are not yet ready to be trained quickly enough for new tasks.
(olb)
