Hyundai Heavy Industries Co. said Sunday it will use robots to build ships for the first time in the industry to improve efficiency and cut costs.
The world's largest shipbuilder has recently completed a year of testing of a robotic system that automatically shapes a vessel's 3-D curved surface at its shipyard in Ulsan, located 414 kilometers southeast of Seoul.
The unmanned system is based on the Internet of Things and automation technologies, and is equipped with a high-frequency inductive heating system and a multi-joint arm, the company said.
Hyundai Heavy plans to add artificial intelligence and more sophisticated technologies in the future.