KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 23 (Bernama) -- Persona AI, a robotics company headquartered in Houston, Texas, has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the State of Louisiana, United States (US), to launch a pilot programme advancing humanoid robotics in active heavy-industry environments.
The pilot, to be conducted at SSE Steel Fabrication’s (SSE Steel) large-scale fabrication facility in St Bernard Parish, marked a significant moment where a state has formally partnered with industry to support humanoid robotics development in a live industrial setting.
Facilitated by Louisiana Innovation (LA.IO), a division of Louisiana Economic Development, and supported by Greater New Orleans Inc (GNO Inc), the initiative will position Louisiana as a national leader in embodied artificial intelligence (AI) in advanced manufacturing and next-generation workforce technologies.
In a statement, Persona AI Chief Executive Officer, Nicolaus Radford said the partnership with Louisiana accelerates humanoid development in an industrially relevant region, supporting domestic shipbuilding and heavy manufacturing capacity.
The pilot will collect real-world human movement and task data in an operating steel manufacturing facility, informing how humanoid systems perceive, move, and work alongside skilled tradespeople in complex, dynamic environments.
In addition, the pilot will leverage SSE Steel’s advanced fabrication operations as the industrial proving ground for Persona AI’s upcoming release of rugged humanoid platforms, designed to operate in environments originally built for humans rather than redesigned for traditional automation.
Unlike fixed industrial robots, humanoid robots are envisioned to use existing tools, navigate uneven terrain, and adapt to changing conditions, making them suited for heavy industry sectors facing persistent labour shortages and operational complexity.
The pilot reflects broader momentum around humanoid robotics across US manufacturing, maritime, energy, defence, and infrastructure sectors. Officials emphasise that adoption of such technologies historically creates new, higher-value roles in robotics operation, systems management, safety supervision, and skilled trades.
The pilot will initially focus on training humanoid welders for deployment in fabrication and shipbuilding, with plans to scale humanoid robotics across Louisiana’s core industries.
-- BERNAMA
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