Robots to Build Ships at Hyundai Heavy

South Korean shipbuilder Hyundai Heavy Industries has unveiled its intention to start using robots to construct ships in an effort to improve efficiency and cut costs.

The move comes on the back of year-long testing of robotic systems which the company conducted at its Ulsan shipyard.

According to HHI, the robotic sistem, which is based on the Internet of Things and automation technologies, automatically shapes a vessel’s 3-D curved surface.

Equipped with a high-frequency inductive heating system and a multi-joint arm, the system is expected to increase productivity by three times, improve the quality of the end product, and result in cost savings of about KRW 10 billion per year.