Space Technologies Address Challenges of Autonomous Drones and Speed Verification

On 25 September 2025, the Technology Centre Prague hosted the in-person workshop Tech Needs Matchmaking – Space vs. Autonomous Control Systems. The event brought together 26 company representatives – mainly engineers, CTOs and programmers – to address specific technological needs presented by Prolab Engineering and ŠKODA AUTO. These included challenges in the development of autonomous ground and flying drones and the creation of an independent software speed verifier for ŠKODA AUTO’s autonomous vehicles.

The Keynote speakers were Petr Hnízdil (Prolab Engineering) – innovations in robotics, engineering, and transport systems, Jaroslav Machan (ŠKODA AUTO / Czech Technical University in Prague) – expert in autonomous driving and AI in transport and Jana Komínek Večeřková (EUSPA) – who presented industry trends and the Cassini initiative for SMEs.

During the sessions, space sector companies responded to pre-defined challenges, such as improving the accuracy of autonomous drone localization in unknown environments and designing a software-based speed verification system.

The program included 9 (nine) one-to-one business meetings, enabling direct discussions between space companies, drone and automotive manufacturers, and representatives from EUSPA, which also highlighted current market trends.

Professor Jaroslav Machan (CTU/ŠKODA AUTO) concluded:
“The meeting was surprisingly very fruitful. We thank the organizers – specific solutions to the challenges of speed verification in autonomous systems were identified.”

Overall, the workshop confirmed that space technologies have strong potential to provide innovative solutions for autonomous control systems in both the automotive and drone industries.

The event was organized by ESA Technology Broker Czechia from the Technology Centre Prague, with the support of the European Space Agency (ESA). This is the third event in Europe, with the first two organized by ESA Technology Broker Netherlands.