This month marked an exciting chapter for the ODYSSEUS project, with the second stage of the rail passenger pilot taking place on 15-16 July, in Ungheni, at the border crossing point between Romania and Moldova. This second and final pilot aimed to improve security controls at the external European borders by testing in real-life conditions the following technologies developed by the ODYSSEUS project:
- UAV-assisted person detection with thermal and high-resolution cameras
- Digital and virtual passport integration
- AI-powered continuous behavioural authentication
- Multi-modal fusion decision support system
As railway pilot task leader, the UIC Security Department, represented by Grigore Havarneanu and Marie-Hélène Bonneau ensured that the needs of the rail sector in cross-border operations were fully considered. The UIC team was also directly involved in the event planning and implementation along with the pilot host, the Romanian Border Police, and pilot activities leader.
The demonstration was conducted in real-life conditions on a passenger train as well as on a freight train in the presence of external observers including representatives from FRONTEX, Romanian Customs and Ethics experts.
Several operational scenarios allowed the Romanian Border Police to test the ODYSSEUS technical solutions.
One scenario focused on verifying traveller identities inside the train using handheld devices, enabling officers to perform checks directly at passenger seats after traveller pre-registration. Another scenario tested the detection of unauthorized individuals concealed outside the train using UAV technology, showcasing the ability to extend surveillance capabilities beyond the immediate vicinity of border checkpoints or in low visibility configurations.
This marked significant progress for the project and a critical step in the operational demonstration of innovative technologies at the external Schengen borders. The results of this activity will allow the fine-tuning of technologies until the end of the project in December this year.
Innovation Programme under Grant Agreement N°101073910.
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