Dr. Marina AlcoverAcademic director focused on measurable results and operational excellence in maritime education. Integrates IMO/STCW regulations and ISO 21001/9001 f
Masters · 1600 h · 11 modules
Master's in Drones and Aerial Systems for Naval Inspection
Prepares you to lead the technological revolution in the maritime industry. Master advanced visual inspection techniques using state-of-the-art drones, both aerial and underwater. Learn to plan missions, operate equipment…
Duration1600 h
FormatOnline
Starts14 December
Places20 / 20
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Programme overview
What is the Master’s in Drones and Aerial Systems for Naval Inspection?
The Master's in Marine and Aerial Drones for Naval Inspection
Prepares you to lead the technological revolution in the maritime industry. Master advanced visual inspection techniques using state-of-the-art drones, both aerial and underwater. Learn to plan missions, operate equipment, analyze data, and generate accurate reports for the structural condition assessment of ships, offshore platforms, and other naval infrastructure.
Differential Advantages
- Practical Approach: Intensive training with flight simulators and real drone operation.
- Specialized Software: Use of programs for image processing, 3D modeling, and data analysis.
- Professional Certification: Obtain a recognized qualification in the naval drone inspection sector.
- Expert Teaching Team: Learn from professionals with extensive experience in drone operation and naval inspection.
- Real-World Applications: Develop practical projects and case studies based on real inspection scenarios.
Programme type
Master's Degree
Study mode
Online
Duration
1,600 hours
Modules
11
Start date
07-12-2026
Programme highlights
- Cutting-Edge Technology: Master the use of marine and aerial drones for efficient and accurate naval inspections.
- Practical Applications: Learn to inspect hulls, tanks, decks, and port infrastructure with the latest technology.
- Specialized Software: Manage data analysis and reporting software, optimizing your processes.
- Regulations and Safety: Understand the current regulations and safety protocols for operating drones responsibly.
- Career Opportunities: Boost your career in the naval sector by offering innovative inspection services. defendants.
- Become an expert in the naval inspection of the future.
Curriculum
Programme Structure
The programme is structured in 11 modules, listed below in order of study.
01
Basics of Industrial Drones and Marine Operating Environment
- Introduction to Underwater Robotics: History, Classification (ROVS, AUVs, Gliders, HROVS) and State of the Art
- Physics of the marine environment: hydrostatic pressure, density of seawater, salinity, temperature and its variation with depth
- Underwater hydrodynamics: buoyancy thrust, Archimedean principle, drag resistance and drag coefficients
- Static and dynamic stability of underwater vehicles: Centre of Gravity (CG) and Buoyancy Centre (CB)
- Optical properties of water: light attenuation, dispersion, absorption and its impact on underwater vision systems
- Propagation of acoustic waves in water: speed of sound, speed profile and acoustic refractiveness
- Marine corrosion and material degradation: cathodic protection, slaughter anodes and selection of alloys/polymers
- International regulatory framework: IMCA (International Marine Contractors Association) guidelines for ROV operations
- Security and risk management in marine operations with underwater robotics
- Analysis of requirements for the design of robotic missions in shallow, deep and ultra-deep waters
02
Mechanical design, pressure hulls and propulsion systems
- Design of pressure hulls and waterproof containers: calculation of mechanically induced collapse resistance
- Selection of materials for hulls: Marine aluminium, Titanium, Stainless steel and composite materials (carbon fibre, acrylics)
- Dynamic and static sealing systems: O-rings (O-rings), waterproof penetrators and submersible underwater connectors
- Syntactic buoyancy: formulation, density, resistance to degradation by pressure and distribution of float blocks
- Chassis configuration (frame) and structural distribution of the vehicle for optimisation of workloads
- Submarine propellants (thrusters): Brushless electric propulsion (Brushless) versus hydraulic propulsion
- Propeller layout and geometry: Holonomic, vectorized configurations and 6 degrees of freedom control (6 DOF)
- Propeller hydrodynamics: design of nozzles, rows of blades, cavitation and net thrust calculation
- Underwater robotic manipulators: 5- to 7-function hydraulic and electric arms, claw design and tools
- Simulation by finite element (FEA) and computational fluid dynamics (CFD) applied to submarine vehicle structures
03
On-board power, umbilical and control electronics systems
- On-board electrical system architecture: DC power distribution (DC) and alternating current (AC)
- ROVS umbilical power and fibre optic cable: design, traction shielding, neutral buoyancy and data transmission
- Surface power units (SPUs) and high voltage at low voltage transformation to minimise losses in long umbilicals
- AUV batteries: lithium-ion chemical, lithium polymer, marinated secondary batteries and gas safety management
- Microcontrollers, FPGAs and embedded computers for real-time vehicle management
- Internal communication networks: CAN buses, underwater Ethernet, RS-485/RS-232 and serial network protocols
- Internal monitoring sensors: Humidity detection, component temperature, internal pressure and current consumption
- Power electronics for motor control: frequency drives, PWM drivers and marinated inverters
- Oil pressure compensation in non-watertight electronic housings and junction boxes (Junction Boxes)
- Electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) and noise filtering in high power on-board environments
04
Underwater acoustics, navigation systems and positioning
- Fundamentals of applied marine acoustics: frequencies, losses due to propagation and ocean ambient noise
- Short Baseline (SBL), Ultra-Short (USBL) and Long (LBL) Acoustic Positioning Systems
- Inertial Sensors (IMU/INS): Fibre Optic Gyroscopes (FOG), MEMS and Inertial Integration Algorithms
- Doppler run (DVL - Doppler Velocity Log): principle of operation, estimation of speed on the bottom and on the water
- Data Fusion Navigation Integration: Extended Kalman Filters (EKF) Coupling INS, DVL, USBL and Depth Sensor
- Depth sensors by hydrostatic pressure and acoustic altimetres for altitude control over the seabed
- Magnetic compasses, magnetometres and compensation of magnetic deviations produced by the metal chassis
- Underwater acoustic communication systems: acoustic modems, transfer rates, latencies and underwater network protocols
- Optical communications by LED/underwater laser for high-speed transfers at short distance
- Sea calibration of acoustic and inertial positioning systems prior to the start of robotic missions
05
Underwater data inspection, perception and processing sensors
- Side-scan sonar (SSS - Side Scan Sonar): Principles of operation, scanning geometry and interpretation of sonograms
- Sonar Multibeam (MBES - Multibeam Echo Sounder): High resolution bathymetry and 3D dot cloud processing
- Synthetic aperture image sonar (SAS) and sectoral sweep sonars for navigation and inspection
- Subfund probe (sub-bottom profiler): acoustic stratigraphy and sediment characterisation under the seabed
- High-definition underwater cameras, low light (low-light) and high-power LED lighting
- Underwater photogrammetry: three-dimensional reconstruction of submerged structures from image sequences
- Laser 3D submarine scanner for precision metrological inspection of submarine components
- Electromagnetic detection systems for the location of buried cables and pipes (pipe/cable trackers)
- Integrated oceanographic sensors: CTD (conductivity, temperature, depth), turbidimetres and fluorometres
- Strict time sensor synchronisation (PTP/NTP) and time stamping (TimeStamping) for fusion of perception data
06
Kinematics, dynamics and automatic control of underwater vehicles
- Underwater vehicle kinematics: frames of reference (SOG, body, NED) and transformations through quaternions and angles of Euler
- Complete 6 degrees of freedom dynamic model (6 DOF) according to the Fossen equations for marine vehicles
- Added mass calculation, linear and quadratic hydrodynamic damping, and moments of inertia
- Heading, Depth, Altitude and Pitch Control Using Classic Adapted PID Controllers
- Multivariable and robust control: Sliding Mode Control (SMC) and passive model-based control
- Thrust Allocation: Mapping, Optimisation and Propeller Saturation Resolution
- Dynamic Position Maintenance (DP - Dynamic Positioning) for ROVs and AUVs against variable currents
- Path tracking algorithms and vehicle guidance via line of sight (LOS)
- System Identification: Experimental methods for determining dynamic vehicle parametres through field tests
- Strength control and compliance in robotic manipulators mounted on board floating vehicles
07
Autonomy, mission planning and AUVS
- Software Architectures for Robotic Autonomy: Reactive, Deliberative and Hierarchical Architectures (ROS / ROS 2 / MOOS-DAWG)
- Autonomous Mission Planning: Generation of Area Coverage for Optimal Mapping and Patrol
- Autonomous Navigation and Obstacle Avoidance Algorithms (A*, DIJKstra, RRT, DWA) using Sonar
- Simultaneous underwater mapping and localization (Underwater Slam): Slam acoustic, visual slam and slam by sonar
- Underwater computer vision: Colour restoration algorithms, turbidity removal and backscatter filtering
- Detection and automatic classification of targets (ATD/ATR) by convolutional neural networks (CNN) in acoustic and optical images
- Behaviour-based control-based autonomy for dynamic decision-making
- Collabouration between multiple submarine vehicles (swarm Robotics / AUVS heterogeneous) and acoustic coordination
- Intelligent energy management and mission adaptation according to battery status and environmental conditions
- Loop software simulation (SITL) and loop hardware (HITL) using virtual environments (Gazebo, UWSIM, Stonefish)
08
ROVs Pilot, Offshore Operations and Underwater Infrastructure
- ROVS Operational Classification: Micro/Mini ROVS, Observation/Inspection Class, Light Work Class and Work Class (Work Class)
- Components of an industrial ROV system: Surface control console, launch and recovery system (LARS), garage/Tether Management System (TMS)
- Manual and assisted piloting techniques of ROVs class work: umbilical management (tether), current management and orientation
- Robotic manipulator operation: use of hydraulic tools, cutters, cavitation cleaners and samplers
- Offshore platform inspection procedures, fixed and floating wind structures, and pipelines (pipelines)
- Mapping and Inspection of Fibre Optic Submarine Cables and High Voltage Connectors in Wind Farms
- Underwater Construction Support Operations: Structure Guide, Jumper Connection, and Valve Handling (Tree/Manifold)
- Intervention in Underwater Archeology, Maritime Rescue and Recovery of Wrecks or Black Boxes
- Emergency Practices: Power Loss, Umbilical Tangle, TMS Failure, and Emergency Recovery Procedures
- Preparation of reports of inspection, evaluation of anomalies and standards of underwater structural integrity
09
Maintenance, fault diagnosis and undersea robotics fleet management
- Preventive, predictive and corrective maintenance planning for marine robotic systems
- Diagnosis of faults in high-voltage power systems and location of insulation faults in umbilicals
- Sealing tests, hyperbaric chamber pressure tests and pre-dive vacuum tests
- Maintenance and purge of underwater hydraulic systems: pumps, servo valves, accumulators and biodegradable fluids
- Repair and splicing of underwater fibre optic and field cable sealing by means of resins and molds
- Spare parts management, Offshore logistics, lifting equipment certification (LARS) and pressure vessels
- Integration and calibration of new sensor payloads on existing vehicles
- ROV/AUV system audits according to IMCA standardised inspection questionnaires (R006)
- Management of oceanographic and hydrographic data: storage, Post-mission processing and standard formats (S-57, xtfx, THE)
- Economics of Robotics: Day-Rate Fees, Operational Costs (OPEX) and Equipment Amortization (Capex)
10
Capstone Project: Design, development and validation of an underwater robotic system
- Selecting an engineering problem or underwater exploration mission that requires a ROV/AUV solution
- Technical, operational, regulatory and economic feasibility analysis of the proposed project
- Conceptual and architectural design of the underwater vehicle or specialised payload
- Detailed mechatronic modelling: structure, sizing of hulls, selection of propellants and distribution of buoyancy
- Electronic architecture integration, power scheme, cabling, sensors and communications protocol
- Development of control software modules, sensor processing or autonomy algorithms
- Validation by simulation in realistic virtual environment (CFD/SITL) of hydrodynamics and vehicle behaviour
- Field tests or tests in simulation tank/pool tests of the prototype or subsystem developed
- Preparation of the complete technical documentation: Operation manual, mechanical plans, electrical diagrams and safety protocols
- Presentation and public defence of the Capstone Project before a court of experts in robotics, naval engineering and offshore industry
11
Master’s Final Project in Drones and Aerial Systems for Naval Inspection
- Choice of topic and definition of the research problem
- Formulation of objectives, hypotheses and scope of work
- Review of the state of the art and specialised bibliography
- Analysis of the applicable regulatory and technical framework
- Design of the methodology and the work plan
- Data collection, processing and validation
- Technical development and analysis of results
- Discussion, conclusions and future lines of work
- Drafting of the memory in accordance with academic standards
- Presentation and public defence before the Court
Workload
Study Time and Workload
1600 hours of study, online and at your own pace. Move the slider to the hours a week you can really put in.
Hours a week8
Weeks to finish—
You finish around—
Who it is for
Naval, marine, and aeronautical engineers seeking to specialize in the integration of drones into naval inspections and vessel maintenance.Maritime inspectors and classification societies wishing to incorporate drone technologies to optimize efficiency and safety in their inspection processes.Drone operators and professional pilots seeking to expand their skills in the maritime environment, in
Faculty
Academic direction and faculty
The teaching team at Navalis: working professionals who deliver and oversee the institute's programmes.
Eng. Diego Cifuentes
Cap. Javier Abaroa (MCA)
Dr. Pau Ferrer
Dr. Nuria Llobregat
Eng. Javier Bañuls
Eng. Sofía Marquina
Eng. Tomás Riera
Verified reviews
Student Reviews
Reviews collected and verified by Opynio, not written by us.
Outcomes
Learning Outcomes
- 01Efficiently manage the collection and analysis of marine and aerial data.
- 02Mastering drone inspection techniques in naval environments, optimizing safety and efficiency.
- 03Implement predictive maintenance strategies on vessels using data analysis obtained with drones.
- 04Develop and implement innovative solutions for the monitoring and evaluation of naval infrastructures.
- 05Design and operate drone systems adapted to the specific conditions and challenges of the maritime environment.
- 06Comply with current regulations and legislation regarding operations with marine and aerial drones.
Careers
Career Opportunities
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02Naval Inspector with Marine and Aerial Drones: Conducting comprehensive inspections of hulls, structures, and equipment, both on the surface and underwater, using drones equipped with advanced sensors.
03Drone Operator Specialized in Marine Environments: Piloting and maintaining drones designed to operate in adverse maritime conditions, collecting accurate visual and environmental data.
04Naval Inspection Data Analyst: Interpreting and analyzing data collected by drones to identify defects, corrosion, and other structural problems on ships and offshore platforms.
05Drone Technology Consultant for the Naval Industry: Advising shipping companies and shipyards on the implementation of drone solutions to optimize inspection and maintenance processes.
06Marine Drone Applications Researcher: Developing new techniques and technologies for The use of drones in the inspection, surveillance, and monitoring of the marine environment.
07Drone Inspection Project Manager: Planning, coordination, and execution of naval inspection projects using drones, ensuring compliance with quality and safety standards.
08Marine Drone Maintenance Technician: Repair and maintenance of drones specialized for marine environments, guaranteeing their proper functioning and extending their lifespan.
09Marine Drone Operation and Maintenance Trainer: Training personnel in the piloting, maintenance, and data analysis of drones used in naval inspection.
Questions
Entry Requirements
Both.
Yes. The itinerary includes ECDIS/Radar-ARPA/BRM with harbor, ocean, fog, storm, and SAR scenarios.
Online with live sessions; hybrid option for simulator/practical placements through agreements.
It focuses on drones used in maritime and aerial environments, specifically for naval inspection.
Recommended functional SMCP. We offer support materials for standard phraseology.
Yes, with a relevant degree or experience in maritime/port operations. The admissions interview will confirm suitability.
Optional (3–6 months) through Companies & Collaborations and the Alumni Network.
Simulator practice (rubrics), defeat plans, SOPs, checklists, micro-tests and applied TFM.
A degree from Navalis Magna Institute + operational portfolio (tracks, SOPs, reports and KPIs) useful for audits and employment.
Online admissions
Admissions Process
No waiting for a phone call. If your documents are complete, you can pay in the same session.
Entry requirements
```htmlAcademic/Professional Profile:Bachelor's/Undergraduate Degree in Engineering (Aeronautical, Naval, Mechatronics, etc.), Marine Sciences, or related field; or demonstrable professional experience in naval inspection, maritime operations, or related areas.Technical Skills:Basic knowledge of navigation, electronics, mechanics, and/or programming (desirable).Language Proficiency:Spanish (native or equivalent). English (level B1 or higher) recommended for accessing technical documentation.Documentation:Updated CV, copy of degree (if applicable), ID/Passport, cover le
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