|
Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...
|
Could humanoid robots be the answer to labor shortages in shipbuilding? Houston-based AI startup Persona AI, founded in 2024 by former Nauticus Robotics CEO Nic Radford, believes so. The company has signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with ABS to explore how humanoid robotics can enhance productivity and safety in shipyard operations.
The collaboration will focus on developing inspection technologies for Persona AI’s humanoid robot platform, which incorporates elements of NASA’s robotic hand technology. Unlike conventional industrial robots, humanoid robots are designed to operate in environments built for humans, offering agility and mobility in confined or ergonomically challenging spaces that are common in shipyards.
Through a series of joint projects, ABS and Persona AI will gather data to support classification during ship construction. The findings will contribute to new ABS standards governing the types and quality of data needed for digital and remote surveys. These standards will help guide future robot design while ensuring that robotic data can be reliably collected, evaluated, and applied for certification and compliance.
“ABS is proud to be at the forefront of integrating emerging technologies safely into the maritime industry,” said John McDonald, ABS president and COO. “Our partnership with Persona AI underscores our commitment to innovation and safety as we establish the standards and protocols that will enable humanoid robots to perform complex tasks with reliability in shipyard settings. By combining advanced robotics with ABS’s expertise in certification, we are shaping a smarter and safer future for shipbuilding.”
Nic Radford, founder of Persona AI, added: “This marks a pivotal moment for the industry. Partnering with ABS, the global authority on maritime standards, shows that humanoid robotics are no longer a distant vision but are moving toward a certified reality that will transform how the industry builds, innovates, and competes.”
The initiative will also build on ABS’s existing investment in AI, particularly in the verification and validation of models, simulations, and digital twins.
