IQUA Robotics Proves Autonomous Underwater Drones Can Inspect Ship Hulls Without Divers or Tethered Robots

Spanish robotics firm IQUA Robotics has successfully completed proof-of-concept trials demonstrating that autonomous underwater vehicles can conduct systematic ship hull inspections without human pilots or tethered equipment — marking a significant step toward fully automated preventive maintenance for commercial vessels. Developed under the EU-funded ESCABVENTS project in collaboration with Zamakona Yards shipyard, the trials deployed IQUA's Sparus II AUV across four vessels of different types — including fishing, research, and defence ships — in real port environments. How it works: The vehicle uses multibeam sonar to detect hull profiles in real time, executing adaptive lawnmower-pattern trajectories to achieve complete, uniform coverage while maintaining a constant standoff distance from the hull surface. Built-in safety protocols enable automatic escape manoeuvres if the vehicle experiences a failure, preventing it from becoming trapped beneath the hull. The system generates centimetric-resolution 3D point clouds of hull surfaces — delivering detailed structural data that supports maintenance planning and coating condition assessment. Remaining challenges: IQUA acknowledged that geometrically complex areas such as sterns, propellers, and rudders still present difficulties where acoustic reflections complicate tracking. Imaging vessel sides also faces challenges due to high light contrast. These are engineering problems with clear pathways to resolution, not fundamental barriers. Funding and context: The ESCABVENTS project is part of the Sail2future initiative, funded by the European Union NextGenerationEU programme through Spain's PERTE NAVAL industrial support managed by the Ministry of Industry, Trade and Tourism. Why this matters for ship managers: Hull inspections today depend on either commercial divers — costly, weather-dependent, and subject to safety regulations — or remotely operated vehicles requiring constant human control. An autonomous AUV that can deliver systematic, repeatable hull data without direct intervention addresses all three limitations simultaneously. For fleet operators managing drydocking schedules and underwater coating maintenance, this technology could reduce inspection costs, improve data quality, and enable more frequent condition assessments without disrupting vessel operations. [Splash247 / MarineLink]

This story is part of the Maritime AI Digest of 29 March 2026.

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