Underwater autonomous vessels have long struggled with communication, often needing to surface to transmit signals, a move that risks exposure. Tel Aviv-based Skana Robotics says it has found a way around this challenge. The startup has developed a new AI-powered capability for its fleet management software, SeaSphere, that allows groups of vessels to communicate underwater across long distances without surfacing.
The system enables vessels to share data and respond to signals from other robots, giving each unit the ability to adapt its course or task while still working toward the fleet’s overall mission. Skana says this technology could also help protect underwater infrastructure and supply chains. “Communication between vessels is one of the main challenges during deployment of multi-domain, multi-vessel operations,” said Idan Levy, Skana’s co-founder and CEO.
The breakthrough was led by Teddy Lazebnik, an AI scientist at the University of Haifa. He explained that the team relied on older, mathematically driven AI algorithms rather than today’s large language models. While newer algorithms offer more power, Lazebnik said they are less predictable. The older methods, he noted, provide greater explainability and reliability, which are crucial for defense operations.
Founded in 2024, Skana Robotics came out of stealth earlier this year and is now targeting governments and companies in Europe, where maritime threats have grown due to the war in Ukraine. Levy revealed the company is negotiating a major government contract and hopes to finalize it by year’s end. By 2026, Skana plans to release a commercial version of its product, aiming to prove its technology at scale. “We want admirals in EU countries to see for themselves that we can deliver results,” Lazebnik said.