Apply now
CourseAerospace, UAM, Drones & Space Applications open

Maritime drone course (USV)

Online course of 300 hours in maritime drones (USV): 6 modules covering uncrewed surface vehicles, navigation and guidance, perception and collision avoidance, communications and remote control, and applications and regulation, with an assigned technical tutor.

Duration3 months
ModeOnline
LanguageEnglish
Start datesSet by the faculty
AwardSEIUM Institute certificate
Enrol now View syllabus Ask an advisor
Virtual lab · try it before you enrol

Take the controls.

Run a real engineering trade-off from this field. Move the sliders, watch the model react in real time and beat the challenge.

SIM · LIVE ●
Learning outcomes

What you will be able to do

01

Understand the types and applications of uncrewed surface vehicles.

02

Analyse the hydrodynamics and stability of small craft.

03

Design guidance and heading control systems.

04

Implement COLREG-compliant collision avoidance strategies.

05

Design communications and remote control architectures.

06

Interpret the regulatory framework for autonomous ships.

07

Plan hydrographic and surveillance missions with USVs.

Profile

Who it's for

  • Autonomous marine vehicle engineers.
  • Marine guidance and control specialists.
  • USV operators.
  • Hydrographic survey technicians.
  • Naval engineers working on uncrewed systems.
  • Maritime compliance managers.
  • Engineering or science graduates seeking to enter the naval and maritime sector.
Standards & tools

What you'll work with

  • International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea (COLREG 1972) (rules of the road at sea)
  • IMO MSC.1/Circ.1604 (interim guidelines for MASS trials)
  • SOLAS Convention (safety of life at sea)
  • IEC 62065 (track control systems)
  • Lloyd's Register Code for Unmanned Marine Systems (classification of unmanned marine systems)
  • DNV-CG-0264 Autonomous and remotely operated ships (DNV class guideline)
  • IEC 61162-1 (maritime digital interfaces)
  • MATLAB Marine Systems Simulator
  • ROS 2
  • MOOS-IvP
  • QGIS
  • Gazebo with VRX
Syllabus

6 modules

  1. 1.1Types: autonomous, remotely operated and optionally crewed
  2. 1.2Scientific, port and offshore applications
  3. 1.3Monohull, catamaran and trimaran hulls
  4. 1.4Hydrostatics and stability
  5. 1.5Resistance and powering
  6. 1.6Seakeeping in waves
  7. 1.7Electric, diesel and hybrid propulsion
  8. 1.8Solar and wave energy
  9. 1.9Endurance and range
  10. 1.10Case study: analysis of an oceanographic USV
  1. 2.1Sensors: GNSS, IMU and compass
  2. 2.2Line-of-sight (LOS) guidance
  3. 2.3Path following with currents
  4. 2.4Heading and speed control
  5. 2.5Dynamic positioning
  6. 2.6Fossen manoeuvrability models
  7. 2.7Metocean route planning
  8. 2.8Navigation in coastal areas
  9. 2.9Marine dynamics simulation
  10. 2.10Practical exercise: heading control with the Nomoto model
  1. 3.1Marine radar and AIS
  2. 3.2Cameras and night vision
  3. 3.3Marine LiDAR
  4. 3.4Sensor fusion for target tracking
  5. 3.5International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea
  6. 3.6COLREG-compliant avoidance algorithms
  7. 3.7Detection of floating objects
  8. 3.8Navigation in ports
  9. 3.9Remote situational awareness
  10. 3.10Lab: COLREG avoidance algorithm in a simulator
  1. 4.1VHF and broadband radio links
  2. 4.2Satellite communications
  3. 4.3Remote control centres
  4. 4.4MASS levels of autonomy
  5. 4.5Human-machine interfaces
  6. 4.6Lost-link management
  7. 4.7Maritime cybersecurity
  8. 4.8Data logging and black box
  9. 4.9Fleet supervision
  10. 4.10Workshop: designing a remote control centre
  1. 5.1Bathymetry with multibeam echosounder
  2. 5.2Environmental monitoring
  3. 5.3Inspection of offshore infrastructure
  4. 5.4Support to oceanographic vessels
  5. 5.5IMO MASS Code
  6. 5.6Legal framework in Spain
  7. 5.7Classification by classification societies
  8. 5.8Safety and liability
  9. 5.9Combined operations with UAVs
  10. 5.10Case study: port bathymetric survey
  1. 6.1Defining the maritime mission
  2. 6.2Hull design
  3. 6.3Propulsion and energy selection
  4. 6.4Sensor architecture
  5. 6.5Guidance system design
  6. 6.6Communications design
  7. 6.7Regulatory analysis
  8. 6.8Sea trials plan
  9. 6.9Report and presentation
  10. 6.10Final project: final review with your tutor
Methodology, software & labs

How you'll learn

Training is 100% online on the SEIUM campus, with downloadable material, recorded classes and an assigned technical tutor. There are no fixed timetables: you progress at your own pace within the intake, making it compatible with work.

Each module combines theory, guided reading of the original regulations and applied exercises. The working software is MATLAB Marine Systems Simulator, ROS 2, MOOS-IvP, QGIS and Gazebo with VRX, in free, academic or evaluation versions. Exercises are based on real procedures for manoeuvrability trials in a dock, simulation of collision scenarios and autonomous bathymetric surveys. Assessment is continuous by module, plus the final capstone project.

Standards covered: International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea (COLREG 1972), IMO MSC.1/Circ.1604, SOLAS Convention, IEC 62065, Lloyd's Register Code for Unmanned Marine Systems, DNV-CG-0264 Autonomous and remotely operated ships, IEC 61162-1.

Assigned technical tutor:every module ends with a deliverable that your tutor marks individually.
Standards-based learning:guided reading of COLREG 1972, IMO MSC.1/Circ.1604 and the SOLAS Convention applied to real cases, not as a theoretical annex.
Industry software:MATLAB Marine Systems Simulator, ROS 2, MOOS-IvP, QGIS and Gazebo with VRX, in free, academic or evaluation versions.
Final project:the design of a maritime drone for a defined mission, covering hull, propulsion and energy, sensors, guidance, communications, regulatory analysis and sea trials plan, reviewed by your tutor.
Flexible format:100% online, no fixed timetables, compatible with full-time work.
Capstone project

Build it end to end

Your final project follows the real engineering workflow, step by step, reviewed by your tutor.

Heading control
Design heading control using the Nomoto model.
COLREG avoidance
Implement a COLREG-compliant avoidance algorithm in a simulator.
Remote control centre
Design a remote control centre for USV operations.
Port bathymetric survey
Plan a bathymetric survey of a port with a USV.
Final project
Design a maritime drone for a defined mission, from hull to sea trials plan, reviewed by your tutor.
Career opportunities

Where this takes you

Autonomous marine vehicle engineerMarine guidance and control specialistUSV operatorHydrographic survey technicianNaval engineer for uncrewed systemsMaritime compliance manager
Admissions & scholarships

Requirements

  • No prior qualification is required.
  • An internet connection and a computer capable of running the programme software.
  • English sufficient to read technical standards.

Ready to start?

Send your application today. Our admissions team replies within 72 hours with your study plan and funding options.

Apply now Scholarships
FAQ

Frequently asked questions

The programme totals 300 hours over 3 months. You set your own pace within each intake, and your tutor helps you plan the workload around your job.

You work with MATLAB Marine Systems Simulator, ROS 2, MOOS-IvP, QGIS and Gazebo with VRX, using free, academic or evaluation versions. Your tutor indicates the free alternative wherever one exists.

A SEIUM Institute certificate, awarded on passing the continuous assessment and the final project. It is SEIUM's own qualification, not an official state degree; its recognition depends on the programme completed and the regulations of each country.

Yes. Modules passed are recognised in a higher programme in the same area (postgraduate diploma or master's). Ask about the recognition policy when you enrol.

No prior qualification is required; you need an internet connection, a computer able to run the programme software and English sufficient to read technical standards.

Start dates are set by SEIUM's faculty for each intake. Our admissions team will confirm the next available date when you apply.

Keep exploring

Related programmes

See all in Aerospace, UAM, Drones & Space
Course890 $

Satellite testing course in laboratory

Online course of 300 hours in laboratory satellite testing: 6 modules covering the space test laboratory, instrumentation and data acquisition, mechanical and environmental tests, electrical and…

3 monthsOnlineAerospace, UAM, Drones & Space
Course830 $

Rad-hard components course

Online course of 300 hours in rad-hard components: 6 modules covering EEE components for space, radiation degradation mechanisms, hardening techniques, radiation hardness assurance and applications and…

3 monthsOnlineAerospace, UAM, Drones & Space
Course890 $

Devops course for aeronautical software

Online course of 300 hours in DevOps for aeronautical software, structured in 6 modules covering DevOps practices in certifiable environments, version and configuration control, continuous integration…

300 hours · 3 monthsOnlineAerospace, UAM, Drones & Space
Maritime drone course (USV)Enrol
Related programmes

More in Aerospace, UAM, Drones & Space

Airport emergency courseView programme →Redundancy course in critical avionics systemsView programme →Distributed propulsion integration courseView programme →Aircraft Generator Integration CourseView programme →Lightning protection course for airplanesView programme →Pseudo-satellite platforms courseView programme →

All Aerospace, UAM, Drones & Space programmes → · How to apply · Fees & financing · Scholarships

Scroll to Top
SEIUM – Institute of Advanced Engineering
Powered by  GDPR Cookie Compliance
Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies so that we can provide you with the best user experience possible. Cookie information is stored in your browser and performs functions such as recognising you when you return to our website and helping our team to understand which sections of the website you find most interesting and useful.