South Korea is moving robotics from lab to the yard. KAIST-linked startups DIDEN Robotics and Eurobotics reported progress: a wall-climbing, magnetic-foot quadruped for ship blocks and a humanoid that can walk in crowded streets. DIDEN’s robot cleared stiffener (“longi”) obstacles at a Samsung Heavy Industries site and is being tuned to pass access holes; the team targets real tasks—welding, inspection, painting—from late 2026.
What stands out for welding is fit-for-shipyard mobility. DIDEN30 is built to traverse steel walls and ceilings and aims for automated welding after a planned biped “DIDEN Walker” prototype in Q4 2025. The company says its “DIDEN World” offline RL platform pre-trains motions in simulation, and it is working with major yards (Samsung Heavy Industries, HD Hyundai Samho, Hanwha Ocean, HD KSOE). Full autonomy—no worker input—is a stated goal for 2026.
Eurobotics’ “blind walking controller” uses internal sensing only—no cameras or LiDAR—so the robot can keep moving day or night, in weather, on stairs and slopes. For welding and maintenance inside blocks, that kind of stable locomotion matters for positioning torches, carrying tools, and routing cables without babysitting. Chosun’s English report mirrors the KAIST note on commercialization plans.
The shipbuilding push fits a wider race to automate welding and cut risk in tight spaces. HD Hyundai and partners have announced trials of humanoid and quadruped systems, with prototypes aimed around 2026–2027—signals that more welding work may shift to robots while welders oversee, program, and verify quality.
Burcin Vargel
July 3, 2025 - weldfeed.com
The direction is clear; timelines will depend on safety, repeatability, and yard ROI.
Source:
Mirage News
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