Skana Robotics enables groups of underwater robots to communicate with each other

Autonomous submarines and robots can play a major role in defense operations, but submarines have struggled to communicate over large distances unless they are on the surface. But coming to publish brings with it the familiar risk of exposure.

Robotic Scanner they think they’ve had a lot of success with underwater communications using AI – but not the big types of languages ​​that companies promote today.

Tel Aviv-based Skana has developed a new capability for its ship management software, SeaSphere, that allows groups of ships to communicate underwater over long distances using AI.

The system allows ships to share data and act on what they hear from other robots. This, says Skana, gives units the ability to be independent from the information they receive and adjust their strategy or mission while still performing the same mission as the fleet. The startup says its software can also be used to protect underwater infrastructure and supply chains.

“Communication between ships is one of the biggest challenges during the development of multi-level operations,” Idan Levy, founder and CEO of Skana Robotics, told TechCrunch. “The problem we’re dealing with is how to deploy hundreds of unmanned ships, share information, communicate on land and under water.”

Teddy Lazebnik, an AI scientist and professor at the University of Haifa in Israel, led the research to develop the new technology. Lazebnik told TechCrunch that for decision-making, he could not turn to the latest AI technology, but had to use AI algorithms that are old and mathematically driven.

“The new algorithms have two things: they are very powerful, but because of that, they are not predictable,” said Lazebnik. “On the surface, you’re paying for performance or the ‘wow effect’ of this algorithm, but the older you get, the more descriptive, predictable and unusual it is.”

Skana Robotic was launched in 2024 and came out of stealth earlier this year. The company is currently focusing on selling to governments and companies in Europe, where maritime threats are increasing due to the conflict between Russia and Ukraine.

Levy said the company is negotiating a larger government contract that it hopes to close by the end of the year. In 2026, Skana hopes to release a commercial version of its product and start proving its technology in the wild.

“We want to show that we can use this,” Lazebnik said. “We argue that our programs can run complex operations, etc. We want to demonstrate. We say we know how to run an operation. We need leaders from the EU and EU countries to investigate this debate and see for themselves that we are getting results.”