ABS has teamed up with Houston-based Persona AI to bring humanoid robots into shipyards. This aims to improve safety and productivity while shaping new standards for inspections and certification.
Humanoid robots could soon be a common sight in shipyards after the American Bureau of Shipping (ABS) and Persona AI announced a partnership to adapt robotic platforms for shipbuilding work. The two organizations signed a memorandum of understanding this week in Houston to launch joint development projects that combine robotics with maritime safety standards.
The initiative focuses on using Persona AI’s humanoid robots to handle shipyard tasks that are difficult or dangerous for human workers. The robots, partly based on NASA’s robotic hand technology, are designed to move like people and navigate tight or awkward spaces that traditional industrial machines cannot reach.
“ABS is proud to lead the way in advancing the safe integration of emerging technologies into the maritime industry,” said John McDonald, ABS President and Chief Operating Officer. “This collaboration with Persona AI reflects our commitment to innovation and safety, as we work to establish the standards and protocols that will enable humanoid robots to perform complex tasks reliably and securely in shipyard environments. By combining cutting-edge robotics with ABS’s deep expertise in certification and safety, we’re helping shape a smarter, safer future for shipbuilding.”
For shipyards, the potential is significant. Robots could perform inspections, collect data for surveys, and operate in hazardous or confined areas without putting workers at risk. ABS plans to use the collaboration to refine standards for robotic data collection, including how it should be verified and applied in digital and remote inspection techniques.
“This marks a defining moment for the shipbuilding industry,” said Nic Radford, Chief Executive Officer and Co-Founder of Persona AI. “Partnering with ABS, the global authority on maritime standards, demonstrates that humanoid robotics are no longer a distant concept but on a path toward certified reality, set to transform how this industry builds, innovates, and competes.”
ABS, which has been setting global safety and classification standards for more than 160 years, is investing heavily in artificial intelligence, digital twins, and new forms of data evaluation. The group says the partnership with Persona AI will not only guide robot design but also ensure that data gathered by robots can meet compliance requirements during ship construction.
Persona AI, founded in 2024 and based in Houston, brings a background in robotics for space and deep-ocean environments. The company says its humanoid systems are built to withstand the demands of industrial work while providing the mobility and adaptability of human labor.
This highlights how the shipbuilding industry is beginning to adopt technologies once confined to laboratories and space programs. With ABS providing oversight and standards, and Persona AI bringing advanced robotics, shipyards may soon work with humanoid machines to support the next generation of safe and efficient construction.
