This Saturday at Dani komunikacija in Rovinj, Antonella Barišić Kulaš joins a panel discussion titled "Science Sells Facts, but Who's Buying?" , organized by the Ruđer Bošković Institute. The panel tackles one of the toughest challenges in science communication: how to talk about sensitive scientific topics to a general audience without oversimplifying, overdramatising, or inadvertently making misinformation, well, worse. Alongside Antonella, the panel brings together Anđela Buljan Šiber (Izone.agency), Petra Buljević Zdjelarević (Head of PR and Communications, Ruđer Bošković Institute), Zvonimir Galić, PhD (Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, University of Zagreb) and Dr Marko Košiček (Ruđer Bošković Institute). We wish Antonella and all the panellists a fantastic discussion! 🙌

The ICUAS 2026 UAV Competition is back! And we’re continuing the multi-UAV story from last year. Organized by LARICS at the University of Zagreb through the CBRNe-HERO project, this year’s competition challenges teams to develop coordinated multi-UAV systems capable of operating in complex, real-world-inspired scenarios. The competition will take place in two stages. In the qualifiers, teams will develop and test their solutions in a ROS–Gazebo simulation environment, with the best teams advancing to the finals stage. The challenge:  Teams will design a fleet of UAVs tasked with tracking a ground vehicle in an urban environment, maintaining continuous communication with a base station, identifying and localizing simulated CBRNe threats and managing energy through recharging and landing strategies. The key difficulty lies in maintaining a fully connected multi-agent system, even under communication constraints and dynamic conditions. ⚙️ Tools and environment: Participants will work with ROS 2 (Humble), Gazebo Garden, Ubuntu 22.04 and Bitcraze Crazyflie drones (via simulation). Who can participate? The registration and simulation phases are finished, while we're prepping for the finals, which will be held at ICUAS 2026 Conference in Corfu, Greece from 15 - 17 June .

The kick-off meeting of the ARTEMIS (Autonomous Robotic Technology for Environmental Monitoring, Intervention and Safety) project was held on April 20, at the premises of MARBLE Centre of Excellence for Maritime Robotics and Technologies for Sustainable Blue Economy in Zagreb. The project is coordinated by FER, with Assoc. Prof. Goran Vasiljević (LARICS) leading the activities, and includes collaboration across multiple departments: the Department of Automation and Computer Engineering (DACE), the Department of Electrical Engineering Fundamentals and Measurements (DEEM), the Department of High Voltage Engineering and Power Systems (DHEP), and the Department of Telecommunications (DTEL), alongside a strong collaboration from academic and industry partners: MARBLE Centre of Excellence for Maritime Robotics and Technologies for Sustainable Blue Economy, Visage Technologies, Iskra Shipyard Šibenik, University of Rijeka Faculty of Maritime Studies and DOK-ING. Funded through the DIGIT programme by the Ministry of Science, Education and Youth, with support from the World Bank, ARTEMIS focuses on developing autonomous robotic systems for environmental monitoring and intervention. During the meeting, the project team presented the concept of a new system designed to replace "environmentally unfriendly vehicles" currently used by park rangers. The goal is to provide better situational awareness in protected areas and enable faster, safer responses to threats such as fires and pollution. The proposed solution is based on fully autonomous operation, allowing continuous monitoring with minimal environmental impact, while improving operational efficiency and reducing emissions. Potential deployment sites include national parks such as Krka, Kornati and Brijuni, as well as nature parks like Lonjsko Polje, Telašćica and Kopački Rit.

We are happy to share that Juraj Oršulić, researcher at LARICS and assistant at FER, has successfully defended his PhD thesis titled “Exploiting Spatio-Temporal Map Segmentation for Graph SLAM and Frontier Detection.” His research, conducted under the supervision of Prof. Zdenko Kovačić and Dr Damjan Miklić , focuses on improving the perception and navigation capabilities of autonomous robots. The thesis introduces new algorithms for LiDAR-based mapping and localisation, enabling robots to explore unknown environments more efficiently using Graph SLAM methods and spatio-temporal map segmentation . One of the key contributions of the work is a computationally efficient frontier-detection method for autonomous exploration, which helps robots determine which parts of the environment to explore next. In addition, the research presents a scalable 3D LiDAR SLAM framework that processes large datasets in real time while maintaining high mapping accuracy. Looking ahead, Juraj plans to continue teaching and staying closely involved with the LARICS team, while also continuing his long-standing collaboration with Phoenix LiDAR Systems . We’re beyond happy that he’ll still be “hanging around” the lab, and we look forward to seeing where his research and collaborations take him next! 

We are beyond happy to share that a new LARICS research paper has been published in the International Journal of Control, Automation, and Systems (IJCAS). The paper, titled “Structurally Reinforced Soft Robotic Fingers: Modelling, Design, and Performance Evaluation”, is authored by Dario Stuhne, Jelena Vuletić and Matko Orsag. The research itself presents a novel design methodology for structurally reinforcing soft robotic fingers using passive support structures. The goal is to significantly improve mechanical strength and grasping performance while preserving the natural compliance that makes soft robotics so attractive for safe and adaptive manipulation. The study combines mathematical modelling with experimental validation and emphasises rapid prototyping using accessible, off-the-shelf components such as aluminium sheets and door hinges — ensuring that the solutions are practical and reproducible. Performance evaluation included payload capacity, lateral deflection, grasping force and object range. The best-performing configuration achieved a maximum payload of 18.1 N while maintaining broad grasping range coverage. This publication highlights LARICS’ ongoing work in advanced robotic manipulation and soft robotics, bridging theoretical modelling with hands-on engineering solutions. Congratulations to our team member for this excellent achievement! 

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!

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.