Yesterday, the first Kick-off Meeting (KOM) of the AI4SEA (Artificial Intelligence for Sea Ecological Advanced Monitoring and Restoration) project was held. This new national research initiative started on December 1st, 2025, and focuses on applying Artificial Intelligence (AI) to the ecological monitoring and restoration of underwater environments.
AI4SEA combines AI-based planning, machine learning and robotic manipulation to advance the development of autonomous underwater technologies under real-world marine conditions.
ViCOROB leads the AI4AUV subproject, Artificial Intelligence for AUV-based underwater habitat restoration, focused on developing a dual-arm Intervention Autonomous Underwater Vehicle (AUV) with embedded AI. This system will enable autonomous perception, decision-making and manipulation, integrating deep learning, reinforcement learning and edge computing techniques to allow the robot to operate independently in complex underwater environments.
AI4SEA is a multidisciplinary research project aimed at the autonomous mapping, monitoring and restoration of underwater habitats, with Posidonia oceanica meadows as the main use case. The project seeks to deliver intelligent and scalable solutions that contribute to the sustainable management of marine ecosystems.
The project consortium includes:
- ViCOROB – University of Girona, leading AI4AUV
- University of the Balearic Islands (UIB), with AI4MAP – Embedded AI for underwater habitat Mapping
- Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya (UPC), with AI4MON – Embedded AI for continuous MONitoring of underwater habitats, through the OBSEA Observatory
- Institute of Marine Sciences (ICM-CSIC), with AI4ECO – Scientific validation of the AI-driven methodology for Marine habitat Assessment and Restoration
