Drobotize: Drones and Robots for Smart Mobility

Autonomous systems can collaborate as a swarm to achieve a shared goal. This international ITEA project studies how such cooperation stays secure by actively testing for vulnerabilities and strengthening system security.

Centre of Expertise Cyber Security

drones

The digitalisation and automation of port operations are advancing rapidly. This project focuses on the secure and reliable deployment of unmanned vessels and drones. By combining technological innovation with a strong emphasis on cybersecurity, the project contributes to future-proof, smart, and resilient port operations in the Netherlands and beyond.

Objective

The Netherlands, with its extensive maritime infrastructure and strategic location in Europe, relies heavily on well-functioning ports for economic growth and international trade. Ports such as Scheveningen play a crucial role in supporting shipping, fisheries, and tourism, while also bearing responsibility for safety and environmental protection. As the demand for smarter, more sustainable, and more responsive port operations grows, the deployment of advanced UxV technologies—such as Unmanned Surface Vessels (USVs) and Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs)—is becoming increasingly important.

Within the ITEA project, the Dutch contribution focuses on the development of a shared platform in which a fleet of USVs and UAVs is controlled and managed as a single integrated system.

Problem Statement and Approach

Within this project, the research group Network & Systems Engineering makes a key contribution to the cyber resilience of drone fleets. A so-called red team approach is employed, actively attempting to hack the networks and systems of the solution in order to uncover vulnerabilities that could be exploited by malicious actors. The focus is on identifying and exploiting weaknesses in both the networks and the algorithms that determine whether and how individual platforms or entire fleets can be influenced.

The research group works closely with local partners in the The Hague region. Within the context of DROBOTIZE The Hague, partners include the Municipality of The Hague, the Port of The Hague, and the fire brigade, ensuring that project outcomes are shared and applied within socially relevant domains.

Target Group

The primary target group of this project consists of organisations in the logistics and security sectors in the The Hague region.

Results

The project aims to enable secure and robust operations of mixed drone fleets through:

  • encrypted communication between fleet components;
  • intrusion detection systems;
  • real-time monitoring of drone fleet networks.

Project Duration

The project runs from 1 January 2026 to 31 December 2028.

Project Team and Contact

  • Gerard Hoekstra (contact person), [email protected]
  • Mike Gilhespy
  • Arthur Djamardzhashvili
  • Sam van Buuren

Client

The project is carried out on behalf of ITEA.

Partners

The consortium consists of 24 partners from 5 countries. The project leader is VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland.

The following Dutch partners are involved:

Funding

The project is funded by ITEA, part of the Eureka RD&I Cluster on Software Innovation and Digital Transition (Call 2024).

Faculty

The HBO-ICT programme of the Faculty of IT & Design (IT&D) is involved in the research.

More information

Drobotize - Drones and Robots for Smart Mobility​