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HYDROTALON: drones at the crossroads of air and water
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Discover the testimonial of Robert MALCEA, one of the beneficiaries of the Bourses Jeunes Pousses Entrepreneuriat 2026 grants financed by Jean L. Lamy. He explains the origin and ambition of the Hydrotalon project, a hybrid system designed to reinvent underwater operations.
A new approach to autonomous systems
Hydrotalon proposes a new approach to autonomous systems. Its objective is clear: to remove a structural limitation of marine robotics. Today, a choice has to be made between deployment speed and immersion efficiency. The project aims to overcome this trade-off.
Its architecture is based on a bimodal system. A fixed-wing drone enables rapid projection to the intervention zone. Once on site, the aircraft splits. The wing remains on the surface and becomes an intelligent buoy, powered by solar energy and connected to the ground. The fuselage, on the other hand, dives down to continue the mission underwater.
The two elements remain connected by a fiber-optic cable. This choice maintains a continuous, stable, low-latency data flow, despite the constraints of the undersea environment. This continuity of communication is at the heart of the innovation.
A project born of an intuition in the field
Hydrotalon is not born of a theoretical concept, it is rooted in concrete experience. Robert, currently a Master of Aerospace Engineering student at ISAE-SUPAERO, was exposed to operational issues during an internship in the defense sector.
▬ “I saw that they were also looking to position themselves at water level […] and I wondered: what if we combined a drone with a boat?”
A simple idea before going to sleep, it then evolves: it gains in depth. The reasoning gradually takes shape. The drone offers high projection speed, but remains visible and vulnerable. Immersion, on the other hand, offers discretion, precision and control. A key problem remains, however: maintaining communication.
▬ “Underwater, you have no GPS, no radio, you’re in blackout.”
The answer takes shape: physically link the submerged system to a relay on the surface. Then use the wing as a communication buoy. The Hydrotalon concept was born.
Its architecture is based on a bimodal system. A fixed-wing drone enables rapid projection to the intervention zone. Once on site, the aircraft splits. The wing remains on the surface and becomes an intelligent buoy, powered by solar energy and connected to the ground. The fuselage, on the other hand, dives down to continue the mission underwater.
The two elements remain connected by a fiber-optic cable. This choice maintains a continuous, stable, low-latency data flow, despite the constraints of the undersea environment. This continuity of communication is at the heart of the innovation.
Lifting a critical market lock
Current solutions are limited: they are either dependent on surface vessels, or totally autonomous, but with no real-time feedback. Hydrotalon offers a credible alternative. It enables continuous human supervision, even at depth. This capability opens up a number of concrete prospects. Three use cases have already been identified.
1. Defense: a new generation of intervention
First case: military operations. Hydrotalon can be configured as an underwater prowler. The system enables a rapid approach from the air, followed by discreet immersion close to the target. It combines speed, stealth and precision in a single device.
2. Submarine critical infrastructures
Second application: monitoring and intervention on subsea infrastructures. Cables, pipelines or wind farms are both critical and difficult to access.
▬ “You can get to the area very quickly, see what’s going on, and immediately decide to intervene.”
Hydrotalon makes it possible to inspect, diagnose and, ultimately, take action without the need for heavy resources.
3. Maritime safety: tracking the invisible
Third use case:interception of underwater threats, particularly narco-subs. These submarines used for trafficking are difficult to detect and track.
▬ “With this type of drone, your field of detection is extended, for coastguards for example. Once the target has been identified, you can track it continuously, while limiting the risks.”
The system thus offers a more agile, faster and potentially more cost-effective solution for subsea infrastructures.
A rigorous approach to development
The project follows a structured roadmap. The aim is to progressively validate the key technological bricks. The first steps involve high-speed communication via fiber optics, hybrid fiber/radio control, and real-time video transmission.
Development will be iterative, with several intermediate prototypes before a complete demonstrator. This will limit risks and reinforce the credibility of the project.
The stock market as a
credibility booster
For Robert Malcea, the Jeunes Pousses Entrepreneuriat grant plays a decisive role. It enables us to finance the first prototypes, but also to engage in dialogue with the ecosystem.
▬ “I want to exchange with experts […] to challenge the project and make it evolve.”
The aim is to test the idea in the field, refine use cases and structure development. The prototype then becomes a key lever to lend credibility to the approach.
A message to donors: believe in upstream
Hydrotalon illustrates a frequent reality in innovation: the initial phase is the most fragile.
▬ “At first, no one really believes in your idea. That’s normal.”
Without financing, it’s hard to test. Without testing, it’s hard to convince. The grant fills this gap. Robert also stresses the importance of collective commitment.
▬ “I really like this mentality […] people want to give back to the community.”
Hydrotalon is part of this dynamic. A project still under construction, but driven by a clear vision: reinventing subsea operations.
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