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FAITH: Bridging Artificial Intelligence for Underwater Drones at the Ports of the Future

Mar 29, 2025

| News

On 4 March, the Port of Ravenna Authority hosted a dedicated stakeholder workshop for the European project FAITH – Fostering Artificial Intelligence Trust for Humans, of which the Port Authority is an active partner.
FAITH operates under Horizon Europe, the EU’s largest research and innovation programme, and addresses a topic of growing global relevance: the use of Artificial Intelligence systems and their trustworthiness.

Building a Framework for Trustworthy AI

FAITH aims to design and validate a comprehensive framework to verify, measure, and optimise the trustworthiness of AI systems. The project applies this framework across several critical domains, including:

  • robotics

  • education

  • media

  • transport

  • healthcare

  • active ageing

  • industry

 

Within the Port of Ravenna, two pilot activities will be carried out using AI-driven underwater robotic systems. These pilots will focus on:

1. Automatic recognition of submerged objects

2. Autonomous navigation for bathymetric surveys

Such technologies can significantly enhance port operations by enabling infrastructure inspection, damage assessment, prioritisation of maintenance tasks, and early detection of potential safety hazards.

Workshop Highlights: Technology, Risks, and Stakeholder Insights

During the workshop, project partners presented:

  • the objectives of the pilot activities

  • the AI systems and tools under evaluation

  • the potential risks associated with deploying AI algorithms

  • the technical methodologies used to mitigate these risks and increase system reliability

Participants also learned about the underwater robots developed by the University of Florence – Department of Industrial Engineering, which will be tested in both Ravenna and Valencia.

The event concluded with an interactive session, where stakeholders actively contributed by identifying potential gaps in the proposed systems and helping set priorities for future improvements.

A Meaningful Opportunity for Engagement and Co-Creation

This workshop provided an important occasion for collaboration, knowledge exchange, and stakeholder engagement. It enabled a deeper understanding of the needs, expectations, and feedback of port operators regarding the project’s activities in Ravenna.
It also fostered the sharing of best practices, which are essential to ensuring successful real-world implementation of trustworthy AI solutions.