HII is looking to introduce AI welding at its shipyards, including Ingalls Shipbuilding, shown here. (Ingalls Shipbuilding)
Shipbuilder HII signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on 17 February with Path Robotics to “explore the integration of Path’s physical AI [artificial intelligence] for welding into shipbuilding operations that could accelerate throughput, strengthen the maritime industrial base, and augment the shipbuilding workforce”, the companies confirmed that day.
HII and Path Robotics are seeking to identify and potentially pursue opportunities in autonomous shipbuilding capability development, workforce training, and the establishment of an intellectual property framework for physical AI-based autonomous welding systems, according to a joint statement released by the companies.
The companies said they will pursue research and development around integrating Path’s physical AI models with other innovative shipbuilding technologies used in the construction of HII ships, to include HII’s Romulus line of unmanned surface vehicles.
Path’s physical AI model for welding, Obsidian, and proprietary sensing-and-vision system transforms a “traditional industrial robot arm from a rigid, repeat-only machine into a real-time perception and decision making system that can see, understand, and adapt to the variations of a shipbuilding environment”, according to the release.
Currently, HII shipbuilders perform specialised, high-tolerance welding and direct weld support activities on large, complex ship structures without an AI-based autonomous welding capability, the release said.
HII divisions use automated robot welders that require human collaboration, the release said, noting the robot welders “are traditional panel line units, cobot welders that work alongside shipbuilders, or mechanised welders that follow pre-programmed paths. AI-driven autonomous welding technology presents a promising potential opportunity to expand distributed shipbuilding capacity and augment HII’s skilled workforce to accelerate delivery”.
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