en.Wedoany.com Reported - The European Smaug (Smart Maritime and Underwater Guardian) project has completed its official demonstration at the Port of Valencia (Puerto de Valencia), validating a system solution that enhances port security through early detection of underwater threats in ports and navigational channels.
The Smaug project was developed by the Valenciaport Foundation (Fundación Valenciaport) in collaboration with the Port Authority of Valencia (Autoridad Portuaria de Valencia). After months of technical development, the project team conducted validation tests of the system in a real-world environment.
The demonstration simulated key scenarios to test the effectiveness of an integrated solution incorporating artificial intelligence, advanced sensing technologies (sonar and hydrophones), underwater robotics, and autonomous vehicles (including USV surface autonomous vehicles, UUV underwater autonomous vehicles, and UAV autonomous and tethered drones). The Customs Office of the State Tax Administration Agency (Aduana de la Agencia Estatal de Administración Tributaria) participated in the demonstration.
The deployment aims to enhance surveillance and response capabilities against threats hidden beneath the water surface or attached to hulls, such as explosives or illicit cargo, preventing these threats from compromising port operational safety.
The first test scenario took place at the mouth of the Turia River, one mile offshore, involving a patrol boat from the Tax Agency (Agencia Tributaria). The exercise simulated the detection of a semi-submersible vessel, a type currently used for illegal activities such as drug smuggling. Hydrophones were used in the test, and acoustic detection results were correlated with AIS (maritime tracking and navigation system) information. Subsequently, a tethered drone equipped with an AI-assisted tracking camera simulated the pursuit of the suspicious vessel, providing extended uninterrupted aerial surveillance.
The second scenario occurred within the Port of Valencia, testing the capability of a fixed hydrophone system to detect suspicious vessels at the port entrance. After receiving an initial alert, a sonar scan of a vessel's hull was conducted to check for attached suspicious objects.
Information generated by all systems was centralized in a command and control center designed within the Smaug framework. This platform integrates data, manages alerts, and processes information through artificial intelligence, providing a unified threat view and enhancing the capabilities of port security response teams.
Test results confirmed the practicality of the relevant technologies in enhancing port environment monitoring and covering the underwater domain.
Through the combination of sensors, autonomous vehicles, and intelligent data analysis, the Smaug system can detect threats that traditional security systems cannot identify as effectively. The technology developed by the project integrates a hydrophone network for acoustic listening, high-resolution sonar for low-visibility areas, rapid scanning, and coordinated actions of autonomous robots. The entire data ecosystem is processed through artificial intelligence to predict risks and help protect port infrastructure, vessels, and maritime operations.
This article is compiled by Wedoany. All AI citations must indicate the source as "Wedoany". If there is any infringement or other issues, please notify us promptly, and we will modify or delete it accordingly. Email: news@wedoany.com
