On 12 September, a robotics demonstration convoy will travel from Zadar to Kukljica. The demonstrations on land and water are open to the public—but that does not automatically mean a seat is available on one of the convoy boats.
On Saturday, the conference becomes a laboratory at sea
The MIPRO RDDC robotics conference will not end in a lecture hall on Saturday 12 September. Its Robot-Drone Demo Convoy is due to travel from the Uskok Yacht Club in Zadar to Kukljica on Ugljan and demonstrate robotics on the water, underwater, in the air and on land.
The published programme begins with a meeting in Zadar at 08:00. The convoy is scheduled to depart at 09:30 and anchor off Kukljica at about 11:00. The maritime demonstration follows at 11:30, the land programme after docking from 13:00, and a public discussion on artificial intelligence and robotics at 14:00. The return trip is planned for 17:00.
Public does not mean a free place on a boat
The demonstrations in and off Kukljica are announced as the public part of the programme. Travelling with the convoy is a separate matter. The organisers expect ten to twenty boats for conference participants and invited guests; freely available passenger transport is not promised.
According to the organiser, anyone wishing to participate with their own or a rented boat must register. Even then, the normal responsibilities of the skipper and charterer apply. For visitors without a confirmed boat place, Kukljica is therefore the more reliable destination—not the yacht club in the morning.
The autonomous boat does not simply set off alone
An USV, or unmanned surface vehicle, is to be demonstrated on the water. Such systems can follow a predefined course, carry measuring equipment and provide data from places where sending a crewed boat would be unnecessarily demanding or risky.
Autonomous does not mean unsupervised during a demonstration. The route, weather, other vessels and a safe abort procedure remain part of the team’s work. A demonstration therefore proves neither an immediately operational scheduled service nor approval for unsupervised everyday use.
The drone is to collect a water sample
The programme also includes an aerial drone that carries a small sampling system to the water. The interesting part is less the flight than the link between two tasks: it can approach a hard-to-reach point and collect material there for subsequent examination.
A visibly collected sample is not yet an official finding on bathing-water quality. That requires a defined monitoring programme, a traceable chain of custody and laboratory analysis. The demonstration day shows a technical possibility—it does not replace an official monitoring station.
The underwater robot provides images below the surface
A tethered ROV is to be deployed underwater. Its connection to the control station allows live camera images to be transmitted and movements to be controlled. This can support inspections, documentation or research without requiring a person to dive for every view.
The tether serves simultaneously as a data path, power supply and safety line. That is exactly why a demonstration needs sufficient distance from swimmers, propellers and other boats. Visitors should respect cordoned-off working areas and not try to follow the device by swimming or in their own boat.
Tonka, Jože and a robot dog come ashore
After docking, the programme moves onto land. The humanoid robots Tonka and Jože and a robot dog have been announced. This deliberately makes the day broader than a boat show: it illustrates the different ways in which machines can perceive, move and interact with people.
The public discussion at 14:00 is the calmer counterpoint to the demonstrations. Questions about benefits, limits and responsibility can be addressed more clearly there than during a brief technical manoeuvre. The programme promises a practical view—not a finished answer to every use of AI and robotics.
The final programme check matters for the journey
A maritime timetable remains weather-dependent. Wind, waves, harbour conditions or technical preparation may change individual times and procedures. Anyone travelling specifically for a demonstration should therefore check the official MIPRO page again the day before and on the morning itself.
The same rule applies on site as during any operation by the water: keep your distance, follow the organisers’ instructions and leave routes clear for equipment and staff. That keeps the day what it is intended to be—an accessible demonstration, not a crush around unusual devices.
Evidence
Sources & date
Sources support the facts. Planning notes and recommendations are Golden Beach editorial assessments.
- Robot-Drone Demo Convoy 2026MIPRO · programme checked 7 September 2026timetable, route, announced systems, public programme and information on participation with boats
- MIPRO Robotics 2026MIPRO · 9–12 September 2026framework of the fifth conference at the University of Zadar and context for the demonstration day
