“Our ambition is to develop technologies that have a real-world impact – whether in the fields of defence, security or critical infrastructure. Defence Research Day demonstrated that university research can deliver concrete solutions applicable in practice whilst strengthening the Czech Republic’s technological sovereignty. Furthermore, investment in research has a demonstrable multiplier effect – it pays dividends not only in terms of security but also economic growth, innovation and competitiveness,” said Prof. Petr Páta, Dean of the Faculty of Electrical Engineering at CTU.
Autonomy for unmanned platforms: collaboration between research and industry
At the Defence Research Day event at the Faculty of Electrical Engineering (FEL) of CTU, research activities in the field of autonomous systems for unmanned ground vehicles were presented, focusing on their deployment in the demanding conditions of both the defence and civil sectors. FEL CTU is engaged in this field through research led by Prof. Jan Faigl at the Department of Computers within the Computational Robotics Laboratory (CRL). Research activities focus primarily on autonomous control, navigation and decision-making algorithms, including within the context of national and European projects.
Cooperation with the state-owned enterprise VOP CZ plays a significant role in this regard, enabling the verification and further development of these methods on advanced unmanned platforms designed for deployment in demanding conditions. These platforms serve as a testing and validation basis for transferring research results into practice. Platforms such as the TAROS 6×6 developed by VOP CZ represent modular, multi-purpose assets suitable for a wide range of tasks – from reconnaissance and monitoring through logistical support to deployment in crisis situations. Cooperation with VOP CZ contributes to expanding the application potential of the autonomous methods being developed and their use across a wider range of scenarios. TAROS fits into the rapidly developing European trend of unmanned systems and demonstrates that Czech research and industry are keeping pace in this field and that, together, they are capable of developing technologies with a direct impact on security.
From simulation to command: virtual reality in security operations
Researchers from the Department of Computer Graphics and Interaction are developing technologies that are fundamentally transforming the preparation and management of operations in security and defence scenarios. The team led by Prof. Jiří Žára and Dr David Sedláček is working on the use of virtual reality for the training of explosive ordnance disposal (EOD) personnel, where complex situations involving the identification and disposal of unexploded ordnance can be safely simulated. The virtual environment enables the training of decision-making processes, the use of detection tools and the operation of specialised robots, to an extent that would be difficult to achieve in real-world conditions in terms of time, cost and safety.
The second project, HOLO-Swarm, developed in collaboration with the Multirobotic Systems Group at the Faculty of Electrical Engineering, Czech Technical University in Prague, and the company QuaternAR, introduces a new concept known as the ‘holographic control room’. Using augmented reality, it displays the situation on the ground as an interactive 3D model onto which data on the movement of units – such as swarms of drones – their status, and planned routes are projected. Users can share and analyse this data, and directly influence the course of the operation in real time.
AR RESCUE: augmented reality and biomonitoring for operations in CBRN environments
The AR RESCUE project also attracted attention at the event; it combines vital signs sensors, hazardous substance detection and augmented reality to support emergency response units. The system is designed for firefighters, military units and other agencies operating in CBRN environments, i.e. in situations involving chemical, biological, radiological or nuclear threats. Its aim is to provide responders with real-time key information about their own condition, the condition of their colleagues and the dangers in the vicinity, without causing unnecessary overload or distraction. Important warnings are displayed in the augmented reality visor on the helmet, whilst the incident commander can monitor more detailed data in a specialised application. The system has been designed to function even with poor connectivity and to distract its users as little as possible.
At Defence Research Day, the team led by Prof. Miroslav Bureš from the Intelligent System Testing Laboratory at the Department of Computer Science presented working prototypes of the system’s individual hardware components, including sensors and a visor. The project thus clearly demonstrated that security technologies are not developed solely for ‘combat’ scenarios in the narrow sense, but also to protect people during extremely dangerous operations where time, accurate information and the ability to function even in environments with limited communication are crucial. At the same time, AR RESCUE well represented one of the long-standing strengths of the Faculty of Electrical Engineering at the Czech Technical University: the ability to integrate computer science, electronics, sensors, user interfaces and the needs of end-users into a functional system with real-world application potential.
When systems degrade: how to prevent unexpected disruptions or failures
Another presentation from Prof. Miroslav Bureš’s research group focused on the reliability and security of systems in a degraded state. Researchers are focusing on situations where complex systems used in critical infrastructure, emergency services or defence face outages, interference, partial damage or cyberattacks. In such moments, it is not enough to rely on an ideal operational model – it is necessary to be able to identify in advance scenarios in which unexpected failures or disruptions may occur, and to prepare for them. The method presented deliberately uses simple, explainable models and transparent AI algorithms so that risky situations can not only be detected, but also understood and explained to the operator.
It is precisely this comprehensibility that is essential in security and defence practice. An operator or commander does not just need ‘black box data’; they must know why a particular state is risky and what consequences it may have. The demonstration focused on two real-world examples with anonymised scenario models, which illustrated how this method can be used to uncover potential surprises that could have unpleasant or even fatal consequences during live system operations. This approach highlighted another important aspect of FEL’s research: not just the development of individual devices, but also the analysis of the behaviour of entire systems under crisis conditions.
ALICE: mapping the information space
Researchers from the Faculty of Electrical Engineering at CTU are developing AI-based tools that enable the analysis of the information space as a fully-fledged operational environment. The ALICE project, led by Associate Professor Tomáš Pevný from the Department of Computer Science, focuses on mapping the spread of information on social networks, identifying its sources, and detecting coordinated or automated campaigns. It uses a combination of machine learning, language models and statistical methods to track how information is generated, how it spreads between individual accounts and how it changes over time. The result is a structured view of the information environment, which enables the identification of influential actors and an understanding of the dynamics of the spread of specific narratives across platforms.
The project bridges academic research with practical application – it is being developed in collaboration with Gerulata, which integrates the methods into tools for security agencies. These tools enable large volumes of data to be converted into a clear format and significantly speed up the analysis of the information space, a process that would otherwise take weeks or months. ALICE thus demonstrates that the information space can be systematically ‘read’ using modern AI methods, and that the ability to understand how information spreads and who influences it is becoming a key component of contemporary security and societal resilience.
GPS-free drones, secure communication and next-generation European platforms
A key focus of the presentation was autonomous drones, which are being developed at the Faculty of Electrical Engineering (FEL) of the Czech Technical University (ČVUT), particularly by the Multi-Robotic Systems (MRS) Group from the Department of Cybernetics. Visitors were introduced to technologies enabling drones to fly in GNSS-denied environments, to swarm coordination systems, and to approaches that enhance communication security and the trustworthiness of the components used. Researchers demonstrated that, in the context of modern conflict , one can no longer rely on the continuous availability of satellite navigation or uninterrupted communication with the operator; consequently, development is shifting towards greater autonomy, faster responses to changes in the environment, and securing robotic platforms against takeover or misuse. A recent dynamic flight demonstration of a drone swarm highlighted that the MRS group, led by Prof. Martin Sasky, is working both on secure European drones for critical infrastructure protection and on dynamic swarms inspired by the collective behaviour of birds.
Research in this area focuses not only on flight itself and the coordination of multiple machines, but also on zero-trust principles, secure onboard computers, flight control units and secure communication, as well as on the development of platforms that are not dependent on risky supply chains. The issue of protection against drones and drone swarms also plays a significant role. The combination of GNSS-free autonomy, cybersecurity and trusted hardware forms one of the strongest defence domains at the Faculty of Electrical Engineering, CTU. The results are not merely laboratory demonstrations, but also technologies with a direct impact on the ability of the Czech armed forces and security services to operate in environments of heavy interference or electronic warfare.
Department of Measurement: shots, GPS jamming, localisation and secure authentication
The Department of Measurement, which has long been developing sensors, measurement technology, diagnostics and data transmission systems for security and defence applications, prepared a strong and highly varied stand. The key exhibit was a system for the acoustic detection and localisation of gunshots, which utilises autonomous sensor units fitted with microphones and a central evaluation unit with a software application. The measured signal is processed by advanced algorithms and classifiers using AI to distinguish gunshots from ambient noise and minimise false alarms. A demonstrator of a security acoustic sensor for indoor environments was presented on site, along with a device for the safe and automatic collection of acoustic signals without the need for an operator.
In addition to acoustic detection, the department also demonstrated a handheld GPS jamming detector, which enables the detection of local jamming in the GPS L1 and Galileo E1 bands, in both omnidirectional and directional modes. Furthermore, systems were presented for locating members of the Integrated Rescue System and security forces in complex environments with or without GNSS, including wearable components, boots with an inertial navigation system, radar and communication modules, and a base station. The practical portfolio was complemented by devices for suppressing audio recording on mobile phones and Lion Key hardware based on FIDO2 for secure authentication. The stand demonstrated the wide range of applications for modern signal measurement and processing be utilised, from the battlefield to critical infrastructure and public safety.
The Department of Measurement’s research is also complemented by Prof. Jan Holub’s project, supported by a NATO Chief Scientist Grant, which focuses on the quality and reliability of voice communication in secure low-bit-rate channels. It demonstrates that even seemingly minor details – such as differences in the transmission of female and male voices – can have a direct impact on communication intelligibility, operator fatigue and the risk of errors in security and defence applications.
VRAS: Helmets and robots for challenging terrain
Researchers Prof. Tomáš Svoboda and Assoc. Prof. Karel Zimmermann from the Vision for Robots and Autonomous Systems (VRAS) group presented their research focused on estimating robot behaviour in non-trivial environments based on camera images and lidar data. For ground robots, they focus on predicting trajectories and terrain properties in environments with vegetation, sand, mud or partially yielding surfaces; for drones, on predicting trajectories and wind conditions around obstacles. These capabilities are essential in situations where teleoperation is disrupted and GNSS is unavailable. In such environments, the robot must independently assess what it can safely do, how to move safely, and how to respond to terrain or airflow that cannot be easily described in advance.
The VRAS group’s research facilities at the Department of Cybernetics have also produced Helhest, an autonomous robot designed for challenging terrain, which was the first robotic spin-off from the Czech Technical University in Prague. The robust Helhest can continue to function even after being overturned, navigate without GPS using only passive sensors, and is intended for use in both civilian and military scenarios. At the same time, it demonstrates that some results of university research are already moving from the laboratory phase into the commercial environment. Defence Research Day thus offered not only an insight into current research, but also into how it can be turned into a marketable product.
E-Shaper and F-Tester: how to test networks under interference conditions
The Department of Telecommunications Engineering presented two technologies focused on network resilience: measurement and diagnostics of TCP/IP networks, including voice, and emulation of TCP/IP networks using the E-Shaper system. The F-Tester system enables qualitative network measurements in bands below 6 GHz and above 20 GHz, and now also assesses the suitability of networks for voice and real-time applications. This is particularly significant because an increasing number of defence technologies rely on mobile 5G networks or satellite communications such as Starlink. Dr Zbyněk Kocur, as the lead developer, also emphasised that these are devices that can be deployed in real-world scenarios, ready not only for measurement but also for integration and operator training.
The second pillar of the station was the E-Shaper, a tool for emulating the behaviour of various transmission technologies and communication systems. In practice, it is often impossible to test everything in a real-world environment, and this is where emulation is of crucial value: it can simulate physical obstacles, interference, hardware and software issues, and other factors that affect communication in defence operations. The technology was also adapted for deployment in the Little Moon City Prague project and supplemented at the stand with the Edu BOX, which combines emulation with active network testing. The entire station demonstrated that communication resilience is not just a matter of infrastructure, but also the ability to realistically simulate crisis conditions and prepare both technology and people for them.
Cyber Security Centre: from audit to training and certification
The Cyber Security Centre at the Faculty of Electrical Engineering, Czech Technical University in Prague, was also well represented at the event, presenting its comprehensive range of services. These range from expert consultancy and analysis of IT system resilience, through recommendations for compliance with regulatory requirements such as NIS2, to systematic training and preparation for international certifications. Dr Jaroslav Burčík’s Netacad group from the Department of Telecommunications Engineering is CompTIA’s sole academic partner in the Czech Republic and places emphasis on practical, accessible training delivered in Czech. In the context of defence and security, this is important not only for the public sector but also for critical infrastructure and companies involved in the defence sector.
The Faculty of Electrical Engineering at the Czech Technical University in Prague (FEL ČVUT) has previously reported, for example, on the strategic cooperation between the Cyber Security Centre and the Office of the Government of the Czech Republic, which included a security status analysis, staff training and pilot student internships. At Defence Research Day, the centre thus acted not merely as a “cybersecurity trainer”, but as a partner linking education, auditing, resilience-building and practical skills development. In doing so, it complemented the other technical demonstrators: modern defence relies not only on robots and sensors, but also on people, processes and the ability of organisations to respond to digital threats.
Photo Credit: Petr Neugebauer
