Researchers from Gdańsk University of Technology have introduced “Hornet,” Poland’s first next-generation, unmanned vessel. This innovative boat is designed to explore the seabed of the Baltic Sea and to protect and inspect Polish offshore installations, such as offshore wind farms.
The new vessel, named “Hornet”, was presented on Wednesday at the Nadwislańska Marina on the Sobieszewska Island in Gdansk. During the presentation, it was emphasized that this is the first vessel of its kind to be developed entirely in Poland and is several times cheaper than its foreign counterparts.
Photo by Bartosz Bańka (Gdańsk Tech)
The work on the project began in 2020, as part of the European Commission-supervised Horizon 2020 program supporting research and innovation. Led by Prof. Łukasz Kulas, a team of Gdańsk Tech scientists created a self-developed structure for the entire system, including both the specialized apparatus and software.
‘At the heart of the “Hornet” is a self-developed system for super-fast processing of information from advanced equipment and sensors, which accurately detects objects on the water surface, as well as whatever is below it,’ explains Łukasz Kulas, DSc. of Engineering, professor at Gdańsk Tech from the Department of Microwave and Antenna Engineering at the Faculty of Electronics, Telecommunications and Informatics, as well as a coordinator of the Digital Technologies Center. ‘All data is collected, analyzed and processed in the vessel’s onboard computer, enabling the system to make real-time decisions. If an unexpected obstacle is encountered on the way, the decision-making systems will safely pass it by,’ he added.
The vessel, measuring seven meters in length, is equipped with structured cabling and numerous sensors, including cameras, radars, and lidars, similar to those used in advanced automotive systems.
In developing Hornet, the research team collaborated with both Polish and international partners interested in using this type of vessel for various operational needs and potential production.
During the presentation, Professor Krzysztof Wilde, Rector of the university, noted that Gdańsk University of Technology plays a key role in Poland’s green transition, particularly in supporting the development of offshore wind farms in the Polish Baltic Sea. ‘We cooperate with the entities responsible for their construction, share our knowledge, but also ready-made solutions, such as the “Hornet” presented today, for the protection of offshore systems,” he stated.
The Rector of Gdańsk Tech also mentioned that the University is a partner in the NATO’s DIANA project and the first so-called “Living Lab” in Poland will be established on Gdańsk Tech campus. The “Living Lab” is a place to exhibit the latest technologies and inventions of the defense sector, developed by scientists and the military of NATO member states.
The Hornet prototype was developed within the research and development project “TRANSACT,” an international initiative with a budget of 26.5 million euros under the HORIZON 2020 program, in collaboration with partners from Germany, Finland, Denmark, Norway, Spain, Austria, Belgium, and the Netherlands. (PAP)
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