Autonomous Aquatic Robot
From the AI and Robotics Laboratory (LINAR), we present the Autonomous Aquatic Robot, a development carried out in collaboration with Nordelta and Área Beta.
This vehicle is designed to operate for long periods thanks to the incorporation of solar panels on its deck and an intelligent energy management system that allows it to harness sunlight to power its motors or recharge its batteries.
In addition, it features autonomous navigation capabilities: it is equipped with sensors that allow it to perceive its surroundings, detect obstacles or other vessels, and temporarily adjust its trajectory to avoid possible collisions, ensuring safe operation even under changing conditions.
This first prototype can be used for environmental monitoring of lakes, performing tasks such as autonomous water sampling, sound recording, or surveying environmental variables.
It is also suitable for bathymetric applications, collecting information about the lakebed topography—an essential aspect for the maintenance of artificial lakes and the planning of civil works.
Furthermore, the system can be highly useful for delivering supplies to hard-to-reach locations.
The technology used by unmanned aquatic vehicles is rapidly growing in the nautical sector due to its efficiency, safety, and ability to operate in complex environments without the need for crew.
Its development is driven by the advances of the past decade in batteries, electric motors, sensors, and embedded systems, as well as by the increasing demand in areas such as environmental monitoring, ecosystem conservation, and civil engineering–related work.
This project reflects one of the pillars of our mission: to link university scientific research with high-impact solutions for the public sector, private industry, and society.