Rove pairs Path Robotics’ Obsidian bodily AI mannequin with legged robotic for autonomous welding past fastened cells. | Supply: Path Robotics
Huntington Ingalls Industries, or HII, immediately introduced long-term performance-based manufacturing agreements with GrayMatter Robotics and Path Robotics.
Beneath the agreements, HII intends to award as much as $900 million in complete shipbuilding work to Path Robotics and GrayMatter throughout seven years. Path Robotics offers robotic welding expertise, whereas GrayMatter gives robotic sanding techniques.
“We’re dedicated to creating generational investments to develop new shipbuilding functionality and to develop capability,” mentioned Eric Chewning, govt vp of maritime techniques and company technique at HII. “Collectively, we’re defining a brand new method to robotics in shipbuilding: automation that may adapt to excessive ranges of complexity, combine, and dimension.”
GrayMatter, Path Robotics take part in HYPR program
Each firms are a part of the Excessive-Yield Manufacturing Robotics, or HYPR, program. Huntington Ingalls launched this program in April. Its aim is to speed up superior, adaptive automation within the fabrication technique of each crewed and uncrewed naval platforms.
The performance-based manufacturing agreements are additionally a part of the HYPR Program. This system consists of collaboration and joint improvement frameworks that set up governance, program execution, and long-term operational alignment among the many firms.
The funding is contingent on the 2 firms assembly clearly outlined expertise and manufacturing readiness, in addition to efficiency milestones, mentioned HII.
Register now and save in your move to RoboBusiness 2026Settlement targets a spread of U.S. Navy applications
With the settlement, Huntington Ingalls mentioned it plans to speed up improvement and deployment of bodily AI throughout U.S. Navy shipbuilding applications, together with plane carriers, submarines, destroyers, amphibious ships, future frigates and unmanned floor vessels.
“For years, we’ve believed bodily AI might basically change manufacturing,” mentioned Andy Lonsberry, co-founder and CEO of Path Robotics. “HYPR is a strong validation of our imaginative and prescient – that bodily AI can scale shipbuilding capability in one of many world’s most demanding manufacturing environments.”
The agreements embody two levels: a Navy-grade improvement stage and a supply stage. Within the improvement stage, each firms will associate with HII to develop, validate and qualify high-precision manufacturing methods.
These might be utilized throughout autonomous welding, grinding, blasting, portray, meeting, inspection and different fabrication processes. The businesses will then combine the methods into an autonomous manufacturing line.
For example, Rove pairs Path Robotics’ Obsidian bodily AI mannequin with a quadruped robotic to deliver autonomous welding past fastened cells. It deploys straight onto giant assemblies and immovable buildings throughout shipbuilding, heavy business, and development.
HII outsources shipbuilding work to automation companions
Huntington Ingalls mentioned the agreements set up a testing, qualification, and oversight course of to make sure that each expertise meets the requirements of U.S. Navy shipbuilding.
Within the supply stage, HII will start sourcing shipbuilding work from each firms by means of the brand new line, contingent upon favorable price, schedule, and high quality efficiency. It mentioned it designed this stage to reinforce its present distributed shipbuilding technique, beginning with small metal buildings and rising to incorporate items and modules.
In 2026, HII plans to outsource greater than 2.5 million hours of shipbuilding work, a 30% improve from 2025, whereas increasing its structural meeting community of meeting associate firms, enabling extra work to be accomplished outdoors the shipyards earlier than ultimate meeting.