Aerial view of the Fincantieri shipyard in Muggiano, Italy. (Photo: Fincantieri) Letter of intent between Fincantieri and Comau includes development of a welding robot for shipyards. Robotic shipbuilding in Italy moved a step closer on 20 May, when Fincantieri and industrial automation specialist Comau announced a letter of intent to develop prototype autonomous steel welding solutions for shipyards. The two Italian companies also agreed to co-operate on developing new technologies in a Digital Factory. The first deliverable for Fincantieri shipyards, to be tested in the second half of 2022, will be ‘an anthropomorphic welding robot’ combined with a remote control tracked vehicle, the two companies stated.