On the 23rd and 24th of April 2024, the representatives of FRONTEX, Escola Superior Náutica Infante D. Henrique (ENIDH) and Instituto Superior Técnico (IST) met at ENIDH, Paço de Arcos, Portugal, for the interim meeting of project SEMS4USV. The team from IST is formed by Prof. João Filipe Pereira Fernandes (DEEC), Prof. Paulo José da Costa Branco (DEEC), PhD student José Neves and Master student Daniel Serrano.

The SEMS4USV project from ENIDH/IST was one of the four recipients of the FRONTEX RESEARCH GRANTS PROGRAMME in 2023:

https://www.frontex.europa.eu/innovation/eu-research/research-grants/

• SEMS4USV - Smart energy management system for sustainable extended-range marine unmanned surface vehicles

This project is focused on the development of a fossil-free Unmanned Marine Surface Vehicle (USV) integrating electric propulsion, batteries, photovoltaic panels, cameras, and navigation sensors, capable of extended (to unlimited) range.

At the core of the novel solution, there will be an on-board Smart Energy Management System capable of making efficient propulsion adjustments based on predicted and real weather and sea conditions to obtain the required mission profile.

Part of the design process will be devoted to the development of a comprehensive multi-physics dynamic model of the USV, essential to simulate and optimise the integrated system. 

Finally, a prototype of the novel USV will be experimentally tested under real river and sea conditions to demonstrate its viability for maritime border surveillance missions.

More informations here