ProjectTRL 2–436 months

Coupled maritime-air systems with advanced autonomy

Physical platforms, digital models, autonomy and experimental validation. We connect research and industrial expertise.

Discover the project Contact

PK.1.1.13.00671 Jul 2026 – 30 Jun 2029FSB · Zagreb

Key research challenge Autonomous landing of a VTOL aircraft on the small moving deck of an uncrewed vessel. Consortium FSB, CoE MARBLE, iCat, Domitran Novitas and CTT. Event · 27 Oct 2026 SPONA project opening conference

01About the project

Efficient coupled systems for maritime-air operations with advanced autonomy

SPONA researches key solutions for small autonomous maritime-air systems in which the vessel, the aircraft, the models, the autonomy algorithms and the experimental validation are developed as one connected whole.

The project links modelling and experiments on physical systems with perception, planning and autonomous control, and research results with industrial development and future application.

months
36
1 Jul 2026 – 30 Jun 2029
technology readiness level
TRL 2–4
A1 · Industrial research
total value
€1.09M
€1,087,287.99
grant
€0.97M
€970,627.80

PK.1.1.13.0067Competitiveness and Cohesion Programme 2021–2027

02What does SPONA mean?

“The project builds a link between the air and sea subsystems, between operational requirements and engineering solutions, and between the research and industrial communities.”

Project application

“SPONA” is Croatian for “link” or “connection”, reflecting the project’s ambition to connect systems, technologies, knowledge and people.

  1. 01 Theme

    Maritime + air

    Connects maritime and aerial systems

    USV, UAV, stabilised landing platform and autonomous operations.

  2. 02 Theme

    Technology + expertise

    Brings together complementary technologies and expertise

    Digital twins, motion modelling, sensing, perception, prediction, planning and control.

  3. 03 Theme

    Needs + solutions

    Connects operational needs with technological solutions

    From operational requirements and modelling to prototype development and experimental validation.

  4. 04 Theme

    Research + industry

    Bridges research and industry

    Joint research and development, knowledge transfer, intellectual property protection and pathways towards future commercial applications.

03Key research challenge

Autonomous landing on a small moving deck.

One of the project’s key research challenges is the autonomous landing of a VTOL aircraft on the small moving deck of an uncrewed surface vessel at sea.

04Consortium

Joint research, not just a division of work

FSB and the Centre of Excellence MARBLE approach autonomous maritime systems from different starting points. At their intersection, physical modelling and experiment meet sensor fusion and autonomy.

FSB MARBLE

  • FSB · lead applicant

    Operational requirements, physical system concepts, motion models, experimental identification, prototypes and validation.

  • FSB + MARBLE · joint research

    Digital twin of the coupled system, relative navigation, motion prediction, autonomous operation and validation of algorithms on models and physical systems.

  • CoE MARBLE · Centre of Excellence

    Perception, sensor fusion, localisation, planning, autonomy.

Partners

  • University of Zagreb Faculty of Mechanical Engineering and Naval Architecture

    Lead applicant · models, experiments, prototypes and validation

  • Centre of Excellence MARBLE

    Perception, sensor fusion and autonomy

  • iCat

    Operational scenarios and USV

  • Domitran Novitas

    Composite airframe structures

  • Center of Technology Transfer

    IP protection and technology transfer

05Activities

Four stages of validation

The digital twin of the coupled system is calibrated through the lab, the wave tank and the test range.

  1. 01

    Lab

    Models and algorithms

  2. 02

    Wave tank

    Calibration on waves

  3. 03

    Dry testing

    A platform that moves the deck

  4. 04

    Test range

    The real sea

Project timeline

  1. M01 1 Jul 2026 Project start
  2. M04 27 Oct 2026 Opening conference
  3. M24 June 2028 Live system demonstration
  4. M36 30 Jun 2029 Project end

06Results

Project results

Project results, such as publications, prototypes, demonstrations and other deliverables, will be published here. The results archive stays online after the project ends.

  • Publications

    Coming soon

  • Prototypes

    Coming soon

  • Demonstrations

    Coming soon

Results will be published as the project progresses.

07Contact

Get in touch

Have a question about the project or interested in working with us? Email us and we will get back to you.

Send us an email

Address

Faculty of Mechanical Engineering and Naval ArchitectureUniversity of ZagrebIvana Lučića 5, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia