A recent feature in Jutarnji list spotlighted Dr. Antonella Barišić Kulaš (LARICS & FER), presenting her work in aerial robotics, international research collaborations and entrepreneurship. The article emphasizes the important role of a mathematics professor, Marija Glibo-Čuljak, whose mentorship was instrumental in nurturing Antonella’s early interest in science and robotics. Through guidance, encouragement and structured academic support, she helped lay the foundation for Antonella’s later research path. Today, Antonella’s work focuses on enabling drones to perceive and understand complex environments by combining robotics, computer vision and artificial intelligence. Her career includes leading research within a NATO Science for Peace and Security project in the United States, as well as co-founding a technology company applying advanced robotic systems in industry. Stories like this remind us that scientific excellence grows within strong environments built on mentorship, trust and shared ambition. We are proud to see such journeys recognised and grateful for the people who paved the way for such an extraordinary career. We also invite everyone to visit the exhibition “Bila si moja inspiracija”, officially opened yesterday in the very centre of Zagreb. The exhibition highlights inspiring stories of mentorship and women in science, celebrating the individuals who shape careers, spark curiosity, and encourage new generations of researchers. The exhibition can be visited until 15 February at Cvjetni trg and Masarykova Street, as well as from 16 to 22 February at park Zrinjevac.

On January 29, 2026, Stjepan Bogdan (LARICS), Luka Greblo (Avyonx) and Robert Milijaš (MARBLE) delivered a hands-on workshop on unmanned aerial vehicles as part of the project “PIR: promatraj, istražuj, rasti" (Observe, Explore, Grow) . The workshop took place at the Red Cross headquarters in Vrbovec and introduced participants to the current state of drone technology and its real-world applications. In addition to a presentation covering global trends in UAV development, the event featured live FPV flight demonstrations and a showcase of key technologies used in modern drone systems. The workshop aimed to spark curiosity and provide real-world insight into how drones are designed, operated and applied across industries.

The 19th Job Fair is coming up on May 13–14, bringing together students, researchers and tech companies from across Croatia. And we'll be there! If you’re curious about robotics, autonomous systems and AI, stop by and meet us. We’ll be happy to talk about what we do, how our research looks in practice, and how students can get involved in projects that go beyond the classroom. Job Fair once again takes place at the Mozaik Event Center, offering two days of conversations, networking and new opportunities — from quick chats at the booth to deeper discussions about careers and research paths. Entry is free with online registration, and the event wraps up with the traditional Loosen Up Party after the first day. Come say hi, we’re looking forward to meeting you!

We are delighted to share that the paper “Consensus-Based Distributed Connectivity Control in Multi-Agent Systems” , authored by K. Griparić, M. Polić, M. Križmančić and S. Bogdan, was recently listed among the most popular papers in IEEE Transactions on Network Science and Engineering (TNSE), one of the leading journals in networked systems and autonomous control. The paper addresses a classic, yet challenging problem in multi-agent systems: how to maintain and control network connectivity in a fully distributed way. In such systems, autonomous agents (robots, sensors, vehicles, etc.) have to work together without centralized direction, keeping communication links strong enough to coordinate actions and share information. The authors propose a trust-based, consensus-driven approach for estimating and controlling the connectivity of the communication network, using only local information exchanged between neighbouring agents. The strategy is validated in both simulations and physical robot experiments, demonstrating its effectiveness under various conditions, system sizes and deployment scenarios. Being recognised as one of the most accessed articles highlights the broad interest and relevance of this fundamental research, and its contribution to the fields of distributed control, multi-robot systems and networked autonomy. Congrats to the authors and thank you for advancing the scientific conversation in autonomous systems. 

The UpLine project concluded with a final workshop and system demonstrations held from 13 to 16 January 2026 at HEP’s Training and Education Center in Velika. Over three days, the project team presented the final results of the UpLine project to colleagues from HEP-ODS, with a strong focus on autonomous inspection of overhead power lines using drones. The workshop combined live system demonstrations with open discussions about the current use of drones in inspections and the potential for future deployment within HEP. An important part of the workshop was the exchange of practical experience. HEP-ODS employees shared valuable insights from their day-to-day use of drones in overhead line inspections, helping connect research results with real operational needs. The UpLine team would like to thank the management of HEP-NOC Velika for their continuous support and for providing access to the testing grounds throughout the project. Special thanks go to Vanja Tomašek for coordinating the cooperation with HEP-ODS during the project. The workshop marked a great conclusion to the project and an important step toward bringing research-based solutions closer to real-world application.

Assoc. Prof. Matko Orsag has been appointed as Deputy Member of the expert working group responsible for drafting the National Industry Development Plan of the Republic of Croatia for the period 2027–2034. Additionally, Prof. Orsag will be accompanying the Action Plan for its implementation. The appointment follows the official decision issued in Zagreb earlier in January. The working group will contribute to shaping strategic directions for the long-term development of Croatian industry.  Participation in this national-level expert group represents an important recognition of FER’s expertise and LARICS’ contribution to advanced engineering, robotics and innovation-driven industrial development. We're beyond proud of this achievement!