Polish student-built rescue USV passes first open-water trials

URWIS, an unmanned surface vessel developed by students of Gdańsk University of Technology (Politechnika Gdańska) to support water rescue teams, has completed its first trials on open water. The tests took place on 17 July on Lake Kałębie in Osiek, northern Poland.

Michał Iwański IT 19.07.2026, 17:46 Reading time: 2 min

White and red unmanned surface vessel URWIS floating on a lake — fot. Politechnika Gdańska

In brief

The URWIS unmanned surface vessel, built by students of Gdańsk University of Technology, underwent its first open-water tests on 17 July on Lake Kałębie in Osiek. The trials checked hull watertightness, propulsion operation, manoeuvrability and remote control via the GSM network. The creators of URWIS, Maksym Domkowski, Julian Baron and Łukasz Gede-Niewiadomski, plan a more powerful drive, a camera, an autonomous system and a towed life raft. The project is being developed under the Uczelnie Przyszłości programme of the National Centre for Research and Development, in which teams can receive up to 20 thousand zlotys.

From the model basin to the lake

The trials marked the first time the craft operated outside laboratory conditions. Until now, the team had verified hull watertightness, draught and stability in the university's model basin. On open water, the students tested the integrity of the structure, propulsion performance, manoeuvrability and the remote control system. The vessel ran across the lake, executed turns and responded to operator commands.

- We can consider the first trials a success. The vessel sails and turns, and today's runs gave us plenty of conclusions for the next round of changes, said Maksym Domkowski, one of the creators of URWIS.

The tests also highlighted areas for further development. The team plans to fit a more powerful propulsion unit and install a camera to help the operator monitor the route and steer the craft with greater precision.

GSM control today, autonomy tomorrow

URWIS is currently controlled over a GSM network through a dedicated application written by the students. The target concept goes considerably further: the vessel is to reach a designated point autonomously, avoiding obstacles along the way, before handing over control to a lifeguard in the final phase of a rescue. The team also intends to equip the craft with a towed rescue raft that a person in the water can climb onto while awaiting assistance.

The approach reflects a wider trend in water rescue, where unmanned surface vessels are used to cut the time needed to reach a casualty and to reduce risk to rescuers, who enter the water only when necessary.

A student project with national funding

The project is being developed by Maksym Domkowski, Julian Baron and Łukasz Gede-Niewiadomski, students of the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering and Ship Technology at Gdańsk University of Technology. Work on URWIS has been under way for more than six months.

The vessel is being built under the Universities of the Future (Uczelnie Przyszłości) programme, led by Poland's National Centre for Research and Development (NCBR) and financed by the European Funds for Social Development programme, with coordination provided by the university's Young Scientists Office. The scheme allows students to pursue their own concepts with mentor support, specialist micro-courses and individually tailored study arrangements. Teams can receive up to PLN 20,000 (around EUR 4,700) towards their projects.

In the coming months, the URWIS team will focus on an autonomous control system, replacement of selected components and further trials on the water.

Source: Gazeta Morska · Compiled by: Michał Iwański