Underwater drones

The Royal Navy is testing how to use robots to seek out and detonate mines and other threats found near vital yet vulnerable undersea cables and pipelines at greater depths than a human diver can safely reach.

The sea of tomorrow might be about as difficult to traverse stealthily as an elephant stomping through a room full of mousetraps thanks to Anduril's Seabed Sentry undersea sensor network that uses AI to autonomously track ocean traffic.

American defense technology company Anduril has rolled out its Copperhead-M – an Autonomous Underwater Vehicle (AUV) that provides uncrewed subs with the punch of a smart torpedo carrying up to 500 lb (227 kg) of high explosives.

Back in 2019, Chasing Innovation introduced the world's least expensive underwater drone, the Dory. The Chinese company is now offering a new version that comes complete with a joystick remote, metal detector and treasure-collecting net.

Researchers from Shanghai Jiao Tong University (SJTU) have unveiled a new type of amphibious vehicle that can hover like a drone, take winged flight like a plane, then dive at high speed underwater like nothing else – called the Nezha-SeaDart.

The Chasing X brings a new form factor to mini ROVs, looking a bit like a submersible quadcopter. It's designed mainly for the underwater inspection of things like ship hulls and aquaculture operations, although it can also grab stuff if need be.

Canadian firm Deep Trekker is probably best known for its Revolution, a top-of-the-line underwater ROV (remotely operated vehicle). The company is now offering a much smaller, less pricey yet still very capable model, however, called the Photon.

If you're buying an expensive underwater drone, you don't want to have to send it away every time an upgrade or repair is required. Qysea's new FiFish E-GO was designed with that consideration in mind, as it has a unique modular design.

Three years ago we told you about the Chasing F1 Fish Finder Drone, which is basically a little remote-control boat with a lowerable underwater video camera. Well, it now has a more capable younger sibling, in the form of the F1 Pro.

Back in 2019, Chinese manufacturer Youcan Robotics brought us the prosumer-oriented BW Space Pro underwater drone. Well, the company is back with its much higher-spec'd OceanEye model, which is aimed squarely at industrial use.

Whether you call them underwater drones or just small ROVs, high-end miniature remote-control submersibles are definitely gaining popularity. One of the latest and best-outfitted is Qysea's impressive Fifish V-EVO.

Three years ago we heard about Oceanbotics' SRV-8, a small yet highly capable underwater ROV (remotely operated vehicle). Well, it's now got a much burlier bigger sibling, in the form of the SRV-8X Optimus.