Driving innovation with AI: How SMAUT technology is transforming autonomous mowing with AI-MATTERS
The Czech office of AI-MATTERS presents the user story of SMAUT Technology, a company that collaborates with the Czech Institute of Informatics, Robotics and Cybernetics of the Czech Technical University in Prague (CIIRC CTU). Together, they are pushing autonomous mowing solutions forward by improving navigation, obstacle avoidance and AI-driven route optimization, delivering safer, smarter and more efficient operations.
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SMAUT Technology is a reliable partner in the development, production and service of autonomous mowing solutions. The company specializes in advanced, fully autonomous industrial mowing robots designed for demanding environments such as solar parks, airports and large industrial sites. By combining cutting-edge hardware with intelligent software, SMAUT Technology enables operators to achieve higher productivity, reduce operating costs and improve safety standards.
By working with the AI-MATTERS initiative, SMAUT Technology has been able to further improve its autonomous mowing systems, increase their safety and reliability, and develop artificial intelligence algorithms that optimise the operation of the entire fleet of robots. This is their story.
“We develop autonomous robotic mowers that work completely independently, without an operator. We have been perfecting this technology for many years and today our systems take care of more than 80,000 hectares a year, mostly in solar parks. What really sets us apart is how our machines communicate. Operators receive real-time feedback from the field, which helps improve safety and performance. ” explains Alan Ilczyszyn, CEO of SMAUT Technology.
The role of artificial intelligence and robotics in company operations
Artificial intelligence functions and algorithms are a key component of autonomous operation and provide the following capabilities:
Navigation and Route Planning AI/ML algorithms process sensor data (LiDAR, cameras, GPS, radar) and learn to optimally plan routes even in environments with moving obstacles. They allow dynamic route recalculation according to the current situation on the ground.
Object and Obstacle Detection Computer vision (deep learning) detects pedestrians, other vehicles, pallets, signs or temporary obstacles to minimise the risk of collisions and improve safety.
Predicting the behaviour of other road users Machine learning helps predict the movement of people, other machines or handling equipment, allowing smoother reactions and preventing sudden stops.
Operations Optimization and Fleet Management AI analyzes data from across the fleet and optimizes deployment – assigning tasks, minimizing downtime and ensuring a smooth flow of material. This is essential when deploying an entire fleet of robotic machines.
Predictive Maintenance and Diagnostics Algorithms monitor operational data (battery wear, vibration, engine temperatures) and predict potential faults, allowing planned maintenance before faults occur.
What challenges prompted SMAUT to collaborate with AI-MATTERS?
The cooperation is structured into several main blocks, focused on professional services in the field of sensor solutions, automation of mapping processes and functionality within the SMAUT Autonomous system:
Sensor systems Machine location without GNSS availability. Reliable movement even in covered areas, e.g. under solar panels. Navigation and object detection in environments such as tall grass. Obstacle detection using a combination of different types of sensors.
Mapping Commissioning of the machine in a given area. Driving and mapping activities during unexpected obstacles. Data recording and map production, including adjustments based on autonomously driven routes.
AI algorithms in the SMAUT Autonomous system The collaboration involves AI algorithms integrated into the software architecture of the machine, the SMAUT Autonomous system and the MySMAUT operating platform, as well as ensuring the resilience of these algorithms and the entire system to cyber-attacks.
Ondřej Beránek, Head of the Czech Node Office at CIIRC CTU, emphasizes: “TEF helps small and medium-sized companies test, verify and deploy new advanced solutions within our clients’ technology supply chains across Europe. And SMAUT Technology is a great example of how innovation is created precisely through research and industry collaboration. “
Solution
AI-MATTERS provided SMAUT Technology with the resources and expertise needed to overcome these challenges. With access to RICAIP Testbed Prague’s testing facilities, prototyping, testing and development of AI algorithms, the company was able to:
Train AI models for obstacle recognition, localization and mapping.
Implement machine control based on sensor data, including LiDAR, cameras, radar and ultrasonic sensors.
Perform data logging, map creation and route optimization.
Integrate AI algorithms into the SMAUT Autonomous system and MySMAUT platform, while ensuring resilience to cyber-attacks.
“SMAUT approached us to develop and test several key areas – from sensors for machine localization and navigation, to map generation, to obstacle and object recognition. All this using artificial intelligence. Our main goal is to come up with a solution that is reliable, safe and ready for deployment. We are testing new AI algorithms in the RICAIP Testbed Prague environment with the equipment we have at our disposal. Therefore, the transfer to the final machine is more straightforward and verification in a real environment is faster, ” adds Pavel Burget, Director of RICAIP Testbed Prague, CIIRC CTU
The key benefit of cooperation
The main contribution is the achievement of the set technological goals through the delivery of the proposed solution in the form of a prototype or functional demonstration, ready (including the provision of an experimental workplace) for deployment and the necessary testing and experimentation:
Machine control and obstacle avoidance based on localisation and fused sensor data
Loading the site model with all its functions, including machine properties and configurations
Integration of functional algorithms in the form of proof-of-concept (PoC) and collection of new datasets generated by their deployment – testing the integration of developed AI algorithms (into MySMAUT and machines, obstacle avoidance, autonomous machine control for higher route accuracy, route generation on the platform, creation and improvement of models).
Final integration of individual functional algorithms into the MySMAUT platform and evaluation of the system’s resistance to cyber attacks
Final audit of SPLUNK platform deployment for operational safety after integration of AI algorithms into implementation and operation
“Thanks to our collaboration with CIIRC CTU and AI-MATTERS, we can push autonomous mowing further and develop machines that are smarter and safer. Together, we are developing prototypes capable of navigating challenging terrain and avoiding obstacles using data from advanced sensors. We’re also testing the entire system from a cyber security perspective – to ensure it’s resilient and protects the data it collects. And what’s the most exciting part? Intelligent route planning. Our mowers don’t just follow a predetermined route, they learn, adapt and optimise their behaviour in real time. All this gives us the confidence to offer our customers even more reliable, safer and fully autonomous solutions – ready for the real world. ” says Alan Ilczyszyn, CEO of SMAUT Technology.
Joint events and promotions
Our collaboration with SMAUT is not limited to solving technical challenges, but also focuses on leveraging joint opportunities to increase visibility, reach and overall impact. Thanks to the fact that RICAIP Testbed Praha at CIIRC CTU acted as the main technological sponsor of the joint exhibition called “United by Innovation“, coordinated by the National Centre for Industry 4.0 (NCP4.0) within the Digital Factory 2.0 concept at the International Engineering Fair Brno (MSV Brno 2025), it was possible to take full advantage of the synergies between partners and initiatives.
As part of the trade fair and the Digital Factory programme, DigiStage hosted a rich supporting programme, which became a lively platform for expert lectures, interactive discussions and networking focused on the latest Industry 4.0 trends and sharing best practices. SMAUT became a visible contributor to the hour-long block of presentations and moderated talks led by the AI-MATTERS and EDIH CTUve initiatives in collaboration with all Czech hub partners and their industry testbeds in Prague, Brno and Ostrava.
The complete recording of the discussion between Pavel Burget, Head of RICAIP Testbed Prague, and Alan Ilczyszyn, CEO of SMAUT Technology, moderated by Ondřej Beránek, Head of the AI-MATTERS Czech Node Office, and David Pešek, Innovation Manager at EDIH CTU, is available (in Czech) on the NCP4.0 YouTube channel:
A short presentation (in PDF format) is available here:
We have also presented our collaboration at a number of other events, such as the third xTEF meeting held on 1 October 2025 in Milan. The event brought together four AI Testing and Experimentation Facilities (TEFs): in addition to AI-MATTERS, AgrifoodTEF, TEF-Health and Citcom.AI, as well as the CoordinaTEF project, which aims to coordinate and promote collaboration, communication and strategic alignment between the TEFs.
SMAUT’s user story was also presented at the AI Festival for All event, which was organized by the Ministry of Industry and Trade of the Czech Republic in cooperation with the main Czech initiatives in the field of artificial intelligence and held directly at the Ministry’s headquarters in Prague. The event attracted several hundred visitors from the public, academic and business sectors and used practical examples to show how AI-based solutions such as the one designed for SMAUT can deliver concrete and tangible benefits.
Official promotional videos of SMAUT Technology:
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