Fill out the form
Cascade Funding
Official call identifier: AUTOASSESS
Objective of the call
The call aims to support innovative technological third parties in developing and deploying solutions that strengthen the AUTOASSESS framework for autonomous inspection of ballast tanks, cargo holds, ships, oil and gas assets, and other marine infrastructures. It seeks solutions aligned with specific project challenges or new concepts that add value to AUTOASSESS and contribute to safer, faster, more accurate and repeatable vessel inspection.
Scope of activities
Applicants must address one of eight challenge topics, each targeting specific technological gaps in autonomous maritime inspection:
Challenge 1 - SOT-aided NDT Thickness Tool for a Fully-Actuated Aerial Robot
Topics / Domains:
• NDT contact-based inspection
• aerial physical interaction
• soft optical tactile sensors
Objectives:
• The objective of this challenge is to develop and integrate an NDT end-effector tool equipped with a SOT sensor for stable contact maintenance in aerial physical interaction.
• The overall objective breaks down into:
• the mechanical design and integration of the SOT sensor into an NDT end-effector for the fully-actuated miniThex provided by the consortium
• a software stack compatible with the GenoM-based framework of the miniThex, allowing to use the data stream from the sensor as feedback for stable contact
• the experimental validation
Challenge 2 - Remote Inspection Support and Augmented Collaboration between Onboard and Shore-Based Experts
Topics / Domains:
• Remote ship inspections
• augmented reality collaboration
• robotic inspection platforms
• human–robot hybrid workflows
• structural monitoring
• operational maritime knowledge
• classification-compliant reporting
• real-time decision support
Objectives:
• The objective of this challenge is to establish a fully functional system enabling remote expert supervision of onboard inspections through real-time AR interfaces and robotic platforms.
• Specific goals include:
• improving inspection accuracy
• enabling expert guidance without physical presence
• prioritizing inspection tasks using operational and historical risk data
• validating inspection procedures on operational vessels through live demonstrations, where feasible, with a preference for arranging vessel access independently of consortium member support
• ensuring that all outputs meet regulatory and classification requirements
Challenge 3 - Autonomous Patrolling Concepts and Early Event Detection Frameworks for Engine Rooms
Topics / Domains:
• Autonomous ship monitoring
• engine room inspection
• robotics
• multi-sensor data integration
• predictive maintenance
• anomaly detection
• operational maritime knowledge
• safety and regulatory compliance
Objectives:
• The objective of this challenge is to design and specify an autonomous monitoring framework capable of supporting continuous patrolling and early anomaly detection in ship engine rooms.
• The framework will:
• define effective patrol concepts and coverage strategies for autonomous inspection systems operating within the confined and complex environments of engine rooms, ensuring reliable and repeatable monitoring of critical areas
• specify the integration of thermal, acoustic, vibration, and gas sensing modalities to enable early detection of abnormal conditions and emerging hazards
• develop data correlation and analysis methodologies that support robust anomaly detection and predictive maintenance, allowing early identification of degradation trends and potential failures
• establish safety, regulatory, and operational requirements in alignment with SOLAS, the ISM Code, and established engine room safety standards
• prepare validation methodologies and performance metrics suitable for future testing and demonstration on operational vessels, ensuring the framework can be objectively assessed under real-world conditions
Challenge 4 - Vessel Structural Condition Analysis and Hotspot Identification via Digital Representation and Modelling for Robotic Inspection
Topics / Domains:
• Digital twins for maritime applications
• hotspot identification
• robotic inspection technologies
• structural integrity assessment
• ultrasonic measurement integration
• predictive maintenance
• FE/CAD-based vessel modelling
• automated inspection workflows
• AI-assisted analysis for maritime safety
Objectives:
• The objective of this challenge is to develop a digital twin that accurately represents the vessel’s structural condition by consolidating archival FEM/CAD data, prior UTM records, historical inspection documentation, and live robotic measurements.
• This will in turn enable the identification of inspection hotspot that can be prioritized for robotic inspection.
• The solution aims to integrate several modalities:
• visual
• thermal
• ultrasonic data
• These are collected through advanced inspection platforms and interpreted using class-approved maritime engineering expertise, ensuring that evaluations reflect actual structural degradation rather than theoretical approximations.
Challenge 5 - Combined Qualitative and Quantitative Assessment of Structural Integrity Using Imaging and Measurements
Topics / Domains:
• Visual Inspection
• Ultrasonic measurements
• Expert Knowledge
• Deep Learning Corrosion Detection
• operational maritime assessment
• corrosion analysis
• classification-compliant reporting systems
• repair specification generation
Objectives:
• The objective of this challenge is to infuse human expert knowledge in a unifying structural assessment framework that integrates long-term visual and thickness measurements.
• The framework should:
• generate detailed condition maps
• identify high-risk zones using operational knowledge
• validate the methodology against historical data and real-world vessel conditions
• This work will ensure that assessments reflect actual degradation behaviour and provide actionable maintenance guidance, grounded in practical maritime experience.
Challenge 6 - NDT-MINI: Ultra-Lightweight, low power (<10W) ACFM/ECT Sensor for Autonomous Drone Inspection
Topics / Domains:
• Non-Destructive Testing (NDT)
• Drone/UAV Systems
• Asset Integrity Management
• Maritime Inspection
• Sensor Miniaturization
• Advanced Electromagnetics (ACFM/ECT)
Objectives:
• The objective of this challenge is to successfully design, prototype, and validate the NDT performance of a field-ready, USB-C powered, dual-mode ACFM/ECT NDT instrument + sensor payload, targeting ~200 g for drone-optimized versions.
Challenge 7 - Graphical User Interface for UAS
Topics / Domains:
• Cargo Halls
• Ballast Water Tanks
• Computer Vision
Objectives:
• The objective of this challenge is to design, implement, and demonstrate a robust, vendor-agnostic mission execution framework that enables reliable execution of UAS-based inspection missions.
• The framework shall:
• execute mission plans generated by the AUTOASSESS UI-DSS
• be fully integrated with the project’s cloud backend and industrial digital twin
• support deployment in real industrial inspection scenarios
• In parallel, it should deliver a high-TRL operator interface that provides full control and situational awareness to a supervising operator during inspection and exploration missions, in line with regulatory and safety requirements.
Challenge 8 - Open Challenge: Tell us what AUTOASSESS needs (within the project framework)
Topics / Domains:
• Autonomous Robotic Inspection
• Autonomous Navigation in GNSS-denied Confined Spaces
• Domain Adaptive and Probabilistic Deep Learning
• Digital Twin
• Historical Defect Evolution
• Decision Support
• others related to AUTOASSSES and justifiable
Objectives:
• Objectives are to be set by the applicant but must respect the guidance defined in the Challenge context and additional requirements.
Projects are expected to develop, integrate, test, validate and assess their solutions through a nine-month programme structured in three phases: planning, development and integration, and final assessment.
Eligible applicants
- Single legal entities, either startups or SMEs.
- Consortia of (a maximum) two entities are eligible.
- The Coordinator/ Lead Partner can be a startup or an SME.
- The second consortium partner can be a startup or an SME.
- Organisations based in EU Member States, EFTA/EEA, or Associated Countries (described in General Annex A, General Annex B, General Annex C)
- Specific considerations:
- Entities from the UK and Switzerland are eligible to participate as long as these entities ensure their own funding
- For UK or Swiss entities, if selected to participate in the programme, these must provide proof of having ensured their own funding during the contracting phase or will otherwise be excluded.
Specific consortium we are looking for:
- A startup or SME acting as project coordinator with strong technical ownership of the proposed solution
- Optional second SME or startup partner providing complementary expertise aligned with the selected challenge
- Expertise in relevant domains such as robotics, drones, NDT, sensors, AI, digital twins, AR, or maritime inspection
- Capacity to deliver development, integration, testing, validation, and demonstration activities
- Ability to integrate solutions within the AUTOASSESS framework and operational context
- Access to or experience with relevant testing environments or maritime infrastructure where required
- Capability to deliver measurable results within the nine-month project duration
Eligible costs
- Staff costs for project management, research, technical work and testing activities
- Communication and promotion activities
- Travel, where required
- Project-specific equipment
- Participation in promotional and AUTOASSESS activities, including events and trainings
- Work linked to demonstration activities
- Indirect costs, foreseen as 25% of other direct costs
- Subcontracting up to 25% of the total project budget, where justified in the proposal and not delivered by an AUTOASSESS beneficiary
Funding conditions
Type of action:
Cascade Funding, Financial Support to Third Parties (FSTP)
Funding rate:
100% for startups; 70% for SMEs
EU contribution per project:
Up to EUR 150,000
Number of funded projects:
9 projects
Project duration:
9 months
Funding is provided as lump sums linked to three programme stages and paid upon approval of agreed results, reports and payment requests. The payment structure is 40% after Stage 1, 40% after Stage 2, and 20% after Stage 3. Selected projects will also receive mentoring, training where relevant, and access to demonstrators or supporting infrastructure.p
Deadline for submission
5 May 2026