Maritime aids to navigation inspection using drones among the use cases included by Puertos del Estado
ITE has collaborated with Puertos del Estado to define this use case based on the experience of Canard by ITE, and it will be presented to the Port Authorities in Málaga
The inspection of maritime aids to navigation using drones has been incorporated as one of the use cases identified in the new guide for operations with unmanned systems in port environments developed by Puertos del Estado. In this context, the organisation has selected the Port of Málaga as the venue for the official presentation of the guide to the different Port Authorities of Spain, at an event that will take place on 9 July, to which Integración Tecnológica Empresarial has been invited to present the use case developed at the Port of Avilés.
ITE’s participation in this forum is driven by the experience accumulated over the years within the Canard by ITE environment, a platform through which various capabilities for the inspection and calibration of air navigation aids and airport systems have been consolidated. This previous experience is now intended to be transferred to the port sector, where there is an equivalent challenge in terms of inspection, maintenance and digitalisation of critical infrastructure, under the ATON Drone project.
The tests carried out in November 2025 at the Port of Avilés, with the participation of ITE, made it possible to assess the potential of unmanned systems for the inspection and characterisation of maritime aids to navigation, an activity that traditionally requires procedures that are more demanding in terms of time and resources.
The experience has contributed to improving the understanding of how this technology can enhance operational safety, streamline inspection processes and optimise the collection of technical information. These results have been decisive in the inclusion of this use case in the Puertos del Estado guide, a document that compiles real-world experiences and recommendations for the adoption of drones within the Spanish port system.
Interview with Juan Díaz Bejarano, director of the Drone Solutions Business Unit
What is the significance of this use case being included in the Puertos del Estado guide?
It represents recognition of the work carried out over recent years to explore new drone applications in the port sector. The inclusion of maritime aids to navigation inspection in this guide means that there is interest in continuing to advance this type of solution and that the tests carried out have provided useful information for the sector.
What does the presentation of the guide at the Port of Málaga represent?
It is a significant milestone because it brings together the different Port Authorities of Spain within a single technical forum. The fact that ITE has been invited to present the use case at this event on 9 July reinforces the importance of the work carried out in Avilés and provides an opportunity to share the experience directly with the key stakeholders of the port system.
What did the tests carried out in Avilés involve?
The tests were conducted in November 2025 in collaboration with the Port of Avilés. The objective was to analyse the feasibility of using drones to carry out inspections of maritime aids to navigation and to gather technical information that would enable the advantages and limitations of this type of operation to be assessed, drawing on the previous knowledge developed through Canard by ITE.
What advantages can this technology provide?
Drones make it possible to access certain elements more efficiently, reduce the exposure of human teams to complex environments and obtain georeferenced information quickly. Furthermore, when methodologies already validated in digital environments are incorporated, the transition towards more efficient, data-driven inspection models is accelerated.
What role does ATON Drone play in this context?
ATON Drone is a tool being developed by ITE as an evolution of the work carried out through Canard by ITE, transferring that knowledge to the specific field of maritime aids to navigation. Its objective is to explore new ways of obtaining technical information through unmanned systems, adapted to the needs of the port environment.
ATON Drone Fact Sheet
ATON Drone: The Evolution of Canard by ITE Applied to the Port Environment
ATON Drone is a tool that Integración Tecnológica Empresarial (ITE) is developing based on the experience accumulated through Canard by ITE, transferring data capture, processing and analysis capabilities to a specific operational environment, namely the inspection of maritime aids to navigation.
This evolution addresses a common challenge within the port environment: the need to inspect critical infrastructure in a more efficient, safe and digitalised manner. ATON Drone incorporates unmanned systems, specialised sensors and analysis methodologies that make it possible to obtain georeferenced data and transform it into useful technical information for decision-making.
Among the capabilities currently under development are the verification of light sectors, the measurement of photometric and geometric parameters, as well as the complete digitalisation of the inspection cycle. Through this, ITE consolidates a line of work focused on applying technologies already validated through Canard by ITE to new highly demanding operational environments.
→ For further information: Aton Drones