On 13 and 14 October, AEROSUB joined the European AI, Data and Robotics community at ADRF26, hosted in Porto by project coordinator INESC TEC together with ADRA. The Forum brought together around 500 experts, innovators, researchers, industry representatives and policymakers to discuss how AI, Data and Robotics can strengthen Europe’s competitiveness and accelerate real-world technological transformation.
For AEROSUB, the event was an opportunity to showcase the project’s overall vision and the technologies that are making it possible. Throughout the two days, visitors to the AEROSUB stand could discover developments spanning autonomous navigation, autonomous aerial operations at sea, underwater inspection robotics, AI-powered defect detection, Digital Twin supervision and advanced human-robot interaction.
Together, these technologies contribute to AEROSUB’s ambition to develop an integrated unmanned ecosystem for offshore wind inspection, bringing aerial, surface and underwater robotic systems together with artificial intelligence and digital technologies.
More than a technology showcase
The AEROSUB stand became a meeting point for discussions about the challenges facing offshore operations and the role that autonomous systems, AI and robotics can play in addressing them.
This was also a chance for different parts of the consortium to come together around the project. Representatives from CATEC, CEA, EDP, KPMG Portugal, University of Limerick, RINA, JP Droni and INESC TEC were present at ADRF26, contributing different perspectives spanning robotics, AI, energy, engineering, and digital technologies.
The experience was not limited to the exhibition stand. AEROSUB partners were also involved in ADRF26 workshops and discussions, bringing the project’s work into broader conversations around autonomous robotics and Europe’s technological future.
Connecting with our sister projects
ADRF26 also gave us the opportunity to reconnect with other Horizon Europe projects working across the AI, Data and Robotics ecosystem.
AEROSUB met with sister projects iBot4CRMs and AID4SME, creating space to exchange experiences.
One of those exchanges was captured on camera. Together, the projects reflected on a common question:
How are we using AI, Data and Robotics to advance sustainability and circularity?
ADRF26 came at an important moment for AEROSUB. The project has been progressing from individual technology development towards integration, validation and, ultimately, demonstration of a connected autonomous ecosystem for offshore wind operations. Its next activities will increasingly focus on bringing autonomous robotic systems, AI-driven inspection tools and Digital Twin technologies together in representative offshore scenarios
After two days of demonstrations, exchanges and conversations, AEROSUB leaves ADRF26 with new connections, new perspectives and renewed momentum towards its goal: One fleet. One intelligent system. Fully unmanned offshore inspection.
