Acronym: SMAUG
Duration: October 2023 – September 2026
Project Partners: SMAUG is delivered by a consortium of 22 partners, including research institutions, technology developers, maritime authorities, and law enforcement agencies from across Europe.
Project Overview:
SMAUG is an EU-funded Horizon Europe initiative under the Border Management 2022 call, focused on safeguarding European ports, maritime zones and vessels through next-generation surveillance technologies. The project is developing an integrated, autonomous system that combines Artificial Intelligence, underwater robotics, and multi-sensor data for threat detection and analysis between three main elements: ports security infrastructure; advanced underwater detection systems; surveillance vessels.
Underwater detection and location will be performed by four prima methods:
- Acoustic detection where a series of hydrophones will listen for sounds emitted by small underwater vehicles and will be processed by artificial intelligence methods
- Rapid sonar hull scan used to scan ships’ hulls and perform harbor floor scanning
- High-resolution sonar inspection of objects in water with poor visibility
- Collective autonomous location where a swarm of autonomous underwater vehicles will act cooperatively.
This will provide information to Artificial Intelligence modules, which will improve the way detecting illicit and dangerous goods and/or threats hidden below the water surface is currently done, taking into account sources such as Unmanned Surface Vehicle Systems (USV), underwater remote operation vehicle (ROV), UAV (Aerial autonomous vehicle) and Port current information sources. The combination of these tools will allow SMAUG to prompt solutions capable of detecting possible threats to infrastructure or vessels, as well as identify vessels with concealed goods.
Key Outputs:
- An operational, AI-enabled autonomous surveillance system for port security.
- Real-world validation of integrated autonomous maritime and aerial platforms.
- Cross-border information-sharing protocols and threat response procedures.
- Capacity-building tools and training guides for port and security personnel.
Expected Impacts:
- Strengthened protection of critical port infrastructure and maritime assets.
- Improved response capabilities for underwater security incidents.
- Enhanced cross-border cooperation in EU maritime border management.
- Demonstrated potential for scaling intelligent surveillance systems to other high-risk maritime areas.
More information: https://smaug-
This project has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon Europe research and innovation programme under grant agreement N° 101121129. Views and opinions expressed are however, those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or European Union’s Horizon Europe research and innovation programme. Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them.