SciTransfer
ORBIS · Project

AI-Powered Satellite and Drone System for Real-Time Maritime Border Security

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Imagine a giant eye in the sky using satellites to spot something unusual in the ocean. Once a potential problem is found, the system automatically sends a drone to zoom in and get a closer look. It's like having a smart security camera system that covers thousands of miles of open sea to find people in trouble quickly.

By the numbers
6
partners
3
countries
67%
industry ratio
The business problem

What needed solving

Maritime border agencies struggle to monitor vast sea areas in real-time, often facing delays in detecting illegal activity or rescue incidents due to limited sensor coverage and weather constraints.

The solution

What was built

An AI-powered system that fuses data from SAR and VHR satellites with autonomous UAVs to automate threat detection and search and rescue operations.

Audience

Who needs this

Coast Guard agenciesBorder management authoritiesMaritime security companiesSearch and Rescue (SAR) organizations
Business applications

Who can put this to work

Border Security
enterprise
Target: National Coast Guard or Border Agency

If you are a government agency dealing with illegal migration and slow response times — this project developed an AI-integrated satellite-drone system that ensures faster search and rescue of migration incidents.

Maritime Logistics
mid-size
Target: Port Authority or Shipping Security Firm

If you are a port operator dealing with unauthorized vessel entries in high-risk zones — this project developed ML models to anticipate potential threats and optimize drone flight plans for better coverage.

Environmental Monitoring
any
Target: Maritime Environmental Agency

If you are an agency dealing with monitoring vast sea areas under extreme weather conditions — this project developed autonomous UAVs and multi-modal data fusion to maintain continuous, high-accuracy monitoring.

Frequently asked

Quick answers

What is the cost or price of the solution?

Based on available project data, the specific price is not listed, but the objective is to deliver a cost-effective solution for maritime surveillance.

Can this be deployed at an industrial scale?

Yes, the project aims for a market-fit solution capable of monitoring vast maritime areas using constellations of satellites and autonomous UAVs.

How is the IP and licensing handled?

Based on available project data, the project follows an innovation management strategy to accelerate access to the civil security market, though specific licensing terms are not provided.

What regulations does the system follow?

The project specifically addresses regulatory, ethical, and security requirements and will provide policy recommendations aligned with EU security priorities.

When will the system be ready for use?

The project period runs from 2025-10-01 to 2027-09-30, suggesting availability toward the end of 2027.

How does the system integrate with existing tech?

It integrates Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR), optical Very High Resolution (VHR) satellites, and thermal infrared sources with autonomous UAVs.

Consortium

Who built it

The consortium is heavily industry-driven with a 67% industry ratio, consisting of 6 partners across 3 countries (CY, EL, ES). With 4 SMEs involved, the group is structured for commercial agility and market entry rather than pure academic research, which is supported by the inclusion of only one university.

How to reach the team

Contact ACCELIGENCE LTD in Cyprus

Next steps

Talk to the team behind this work.

Contact us to explore partnership opportunities with the ORBIS consortium.