Professor Antonio Franchi, from the University of Twente, represented the AUTOASSES Project on 10 July 2025 at the AI for Good Global Summit, as he explained how a revolution is underway in maritime safety, turning some of the most hazardous inspection tasks into automated, drone-powered operations.
Antonio Franchi, Professor in Aerial Robotics Control at the University of Twente, presented how the project tackles a life-threatening problem: the inspection of dark, toxic, and confined spaces within maritime vessels, such as ballast water tanks, where human surveyors currently risk their lives to check for corrosion and structural damage.
The core of the solution lies in the fusion of cutting-edge robotics and artificial intelligence. AUTOASSESS’ focus is developing a system of autonomous, collision-tolerant drones equipped with precise force control and onboard perception. These aerial robots are designed to navigate the most inaccessible parts of ships, removing the need to put human lives at risk.
Professor Franchi highlighted that by automating these inspections, the time required can be reduced from an average of 15 days to just 1 day. This immense efficiency gain is projected to save billions annually for the maritime industry, while simultaneously establishing a crucial new standard for safety.
The work led by Professor Franchi’s team at the University of Twente focuses on the mechatronic design and control strategies, enabling the drones to perform physical contact inspection, and ensuring precise and stable force application even in the complex environments of a ship’s interior.
