Edge-AI autopilots
Intelligent controllers for autonomous surface and underwater vehicles: on-board navigation, obstacle detection and avoidance, and adaptive energy and mission management.
Edge-AI · Autonomous Systems
Autonomy that holds where the signal drops.
URBANGRIDS designs edge-AI autopilots and autonomous maritime platforms that perceive, decide and navigate on board — built for long endurance, open architectures and places where connectivity can't be taken for granted.
What we do
From the autopilot to the hull, and the AI in between.
Three lines of work share one engineering core: perception, planning and decision-making that run at the edge, close to the sensors, without waiting on the cloud.
Autonomous maritime platforms
Uncrewed surface vessels designed from first principles for unmanned operation, with an open, modular architecture that adapts to each mission profile.
AI software & data
Machine-learning pipelines, language models and cloud-to-edge deployment, including AI for regulatory and compliance automation.
Flagship platform
USV-02 “Viper”
An autonomous surface vessel designed from first principles for uncrewed operation, running our edge-AI autopilot on board and built around an open, modular architecture that adapts to each mission.
Uncrewed
Designed for
On board
Autonomy
Edge-AI
Autopilot
Long
Endurance
Modular
Payload bays
Open
Architecture
Technology stack
Built to decide on board.
Our autopilot stack keeps the full autonomy loop on the vehicle, sensing to acting, and treats the link to shore as a bonus rather than a dependency.
- 01
Perception & sensor fusion
Multispectral sensor integration (cameras, radar and detachable probes) fused into a single picture of the vehicle's surroundings.
- 02
Autonomous navigation
Proprietary AI navigation with path planning, collision avoidance and dynamic re-routing.
- 03
Anomaly detection & learning
Machine-learning models that flag abnormal behavior in the vehicle and its environment and improve mission after mission.
- 04
Secure communications
Acoustic, optical and satellite links with real-time, two-way telemetry, designed to degrade gracefully when the link is lost.
- 05
Digital twin
A simulation environment for virtual testing and optimization, so missions and software are validated before they reach the water.
- 06
Ground control
A mission-control station with live telemetry and a clear operator interface, from a single vehicle to several working together.
R&D programs
Research backed by Portugal and the European Union.
We develop our technology in competitively selected programs, working alongside industry leaders and research institutes.
STEP · Portugal 2030
2027 → 2029
NAVISENSE
Integrated Sensing & Navigation for Autonomous Systems
A 10-partner Portuguese R&D consortium developing navigation, sensing and connectivity technologies integrated into advanced materials for aerial, ground and maritime autonomous vehicles. URBANGRIDS contributes its autonomous maritime platform and leads integration and testing on autonomous aquatic vehicles.
GLNCeNTIEVOLEOISQ-CTAGMATGLOWCORRIDAVERDEURBANGRIDSITU. MinhoTICE.PT
- Call
- STEP R&D&I Business — Digital & Biotechnology
- Funding
- COMPETE 2030 · ERDF
- Our role
- Maritime platform · Lead of T5.3
PRR · NextGenerationEU
2025 → 2027
AI Applied to Productivity and Sales
Recovery and Resilience Plan project
Development of algorithms that automate the collection and analysis of regulatory and compliance information, together with an internal AI assistant for client support and triage, strengthening the company's AI team and computing capacity.
- Project
- No. 27564 · Call 03/C05-i14.01/2025 — AI in SMEs
- Investment
- C05-i14.01 — Business Innovation
- Period
- Dec 1, 2025 – Nov 30, 2027
- Eligible cost
- €230,150.08
- EU support
- €172,612.56 (NextGenerationEU)
Supported by Portugal's Recovery and Resilience Plan. Project details · recuperarportugal.gov.pt
The company
A small, focused engineering company in Portugal.
URBANGRIDS was founded in 2024 in Portugal. We combine mechanical, electronic and software engineering with applied AI, and we work with research centers, universities and industrial partners across Europe to take autonomy from the lab to the water.
Open by design. Modular architectures that integrate new sensors and payloads without starting over.
Edge first. Decisions made on the vehicle, where latency and connectivity can't be taken for granted.
Validated, not promised. Digital-twin simulation and structured testing with independent partners.
2024
Founded in Portugal
10
Partners in the NAVISENSE consortium
3×
Domains: surface, underwater, AI software
100%
International client base
Work with us
Let's build what comes next at sea.
Partnerships, pilots, research collaborations or platform inquiries — we'd like to hear what you're working on.
- info@urbangrids.dev
- Company
- URBANGRIDS
- Headquarters
- Portugal