iTEAM took part in Valencia Digital Summit (VDS) 2026 as part of the UPV Innovation stand, where it presented CHIRP HAWK, a technology demonstration showcasing the potential of robotic navigation based exclusively on radar technology.
CHIRP HAWK is the first commercial radar system capable of generating 3D occupancy maps for robotic navigation in ROS2. Using artificial intelligence, it generates detailed, navigable maps based solely on radar signals, without relying on conventional vision systems. This enables robots to continue operating in low- or no-visibility conditions, such as smoke, fog, dust or darkness, with potential applications in defence, security and emergency response platforms.
During the demonstration, visitors designed different courses using cardboard boxes and observed how an autonomous guided vehicle (AGV) navigated through them using exclusively radar data for positioning and navigation. The same radar-based perception also enabled the detection of people located behind a wall, since radar signals can pass through materials that block light.
The demo was presented by Narcís Cardona, Saúl Fenollosa, Carlos Villena and Carlos Albalate. The stand also featured the participation of the institute’s Innovation Agent, Alicia Abad, contributing to the dissemination of iTEAM technologies and helping connect researchers with companies and other stakeholders from the innovation ecosystem (INNTA1/2024/048).