Sparks flew continuously inside HD Hyundai Heavy Industries’ Hull Assembly Plant 2 in Ulsan, where ship blocks stretching dozens of yards filled the production floor. From a distance, the scene appeared to show welders at work. Up close, however, the welding torches were being operated not by people but by robots.
The collaborative robots moved steadily along welding seams without direct worker control. After completing one section, each robot moved to the next work area while nearby machines began other assignments. Instead of carrying welding equipment from one ship block to another, workers monitored and controlled multiple robots through computer screens and tablets.
The production site visited Friday illustrated how South Korea’s shipbuilding industry is rapidly shifting toward autonomous manufacturing systems powered by artificial intelligence and robotics.
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