The vastness of our oceans, which cover over 70% of the Earth’s surface, remains largely uncharted, with our lunar maps being more detailed than those of the seabed. This discrepancy arises from the ocean’s obscured depths and the challenging conditions that hinder human exploration. However, advancements in robotics are paving the way for a clearer understanding of the ocean’s mysteries.
In the race to create detailed ocean maps, several innovative companies are emerging, with one of the latest securing significant funding. A recent funding round has brought in $25 million for a pioneering startup focused on underwater exploration, led by prominent investors. This financial boost will enable the company to enhance its technology and expand its operations.
The startup has engineered a cutting-edge autonomous underwater vehicle (AUV) capable of operating for up to 12 hours on lithium-ion batteries while utilizing advanced sonar and magnetic sensors to map the ocean floor.
Historically, ocean mapping has relied on large vessels that emit powerful sonar waves into the water. These ships consume substantial fuel and require human crews, making them expensive and disruptive to marine ecosystems.
“The ultimate goal that many have pursued for two decades is to find a viable alternative to traditional mapping ships,” stated the COO of the startup.
While the AUVs are deployed from a ship, they function autonomously once submerged. Remarkably, two of these vehicles can cover the same area as a single conventional mapping vessel, and a standard 40-foot ship can transport 10 to 12 AUVs, significantly increasing efficiency.
The company designs and manufactures its AUVs, which are priced at under $1 million each. Additionally, they have developed proprietary software for both the operation of the AUVs and the data mapping process. The AUVs collect data on-site and perform preliminary processing. When ready to transmit, they surface and send the information to the ship via Wi-Fi. A satellite antenna on the ship can then relay this data to the cloud for real-time monitoring.
“We can confirm that the data quality meets our standards and identify potential areas for further investigation almost instantly,” the COO remarked.
The AUVs operate at a depth of five to ten meters above the seafloor, allowing them to utilize less powerful sonar than traditional ships. This method is less harmful to marine life, as the sonar frequency is outside the audible range for many marine mammals, uses less energy, and is deployed closer to the ocean floor, reducing the likelihood of disturbing aquatic creatures.
The company can accurately place objects on the ocean floor within one to two meters, which, while not as precise as the sub-meter accuracy achieved by ship-based surveys, is often sufficient for many applications. The AUVs lose GPS signals underwater and rely on inertial navigation, which is less accurate than GPS.
The COO argues that not all surveys require sub-meter precision, and many seafloor operations could benefit from quicker mapping solutions. For instance, offshore wind developers may initially invest in a highly accurate survey but later find that two-meter accuracy suffices for construction purposes.
In recent months, the startup has engaged in paid survey projects for offshore wind, oil and gas, and environmental assessments. The rapid assessment capabilities and quick data access have also attracted interest from military organizations. “We demonstrated our capabilities, and the response was overwhelmingly positive,” the COO shared.
Note: The COO’s title has been corrected; he is not the CEO as previously mentioned.