Missions

Metocean Data Collection

Ocean condition observations, surface meteorology, and wind power density at hub height to inform energy production estimates

Ecosystem Monitoring

Acoustic and visual detection of natural visitors like whales, seabirds, and bats

Mapping

Multibeam mapping and sub-bottom profiling for wind farm development and continuous monitoring of the shifting seafloor

Maritime Security

Onboard sensor fusion of cameras, radar, and AIS data for real-time asset protection

Saildrone Explorer unmanned surface vehicle equipped for maritime domain awareness missions in Hawaii.

Environmentally Friendly Life Cycle Solutions for Offshore Wind

Saildrone USVs are the only uncrewed wind-powered vehicles to provide ocean data, maritime security, and ocean mapping.

Saildrone USVs are powered predominantly by renewable energy—wind and solar—producing a minimal carbon footprint. They carry state-of-the-art scientific sensors to collect the data required to develop and maintain an offshore wind farm, from high-resolution ocean mapping and establishing a metocean baseline to persistent year-round ecosystem monitoring and maritime security solutions.

The impressive capabilities of Saildrone’s autonomous vehicles have been proven in numerous operational missions for science, ocean mapping, and maritime security, covering over 750,000 nautical miles from the Arctic to the Antarctic. The Saildrone fleet has logged more than 17,000 days at sea in some of the most extreme weather conditions on the planet.

Machine Learning-enabled Asset Security

Saildrones use optical cameras and advanced machine learning algorithms to deliver real-time, visual detection of anything in the vicinity of protected assets or offshore wind farms, including commercial and recreational boats or other vessels that may choose not to transmit their position.

Saildrones also detect and identify natural visitors like whales, seabirds, and bats. The location of detected targets is fused with other data sources—AIS and acoustics—to deliver a fully informed picture of the surrounding marine areas providing advanced security 24/7/365 days a year.

Why Saildrone?

Cost-effective, persistent MDA in any ocean

24/7 autonomous operations monitoring with real-time data transmission via satellite communications

Up to 365 days without returning to port for maintenance or refueling

Reduced fuel consumption and carbon footprint

Secure, encrypted data, vehicle to cloud

Single-beam and multibeam bathymetric data that meets IHO standards

Vehicles

Explorer

23 ft (7 m)
Wind propulsion 3 knots avg.
>365 days endurance

Voyager

33 ft (10 m)
Wind propulsion 5 knots avg.
>180 days endurance

Surveyor

65 ft (20 m)
Wind propulsion 6 knots avg.
>180 days endurance

In the News

The Tiny Craft Mapping Superstorms at Sea

Throughout history, most sea captains have tried to steer their vessels out of extreme weather, but the whole purpose of SD 1045 was to steer into it.

The New York Times Magazine - May 2023

An Underwater Mountain Was Newly Discovered off California Coast

The Saildrone Surveyor found the mountain during its first mission to map unexplored areas of the ocean floor off of California and Alaska.

SF Chronicle - March 2023

Startlingly Round Formation with Steep, Smooth Sides Found on Seafloor off California

A mountain would seem to be a tough thing to miss, but a new one has been found off the coast of Northern California.

Miami Herald - March 2023

Explore Saildrone's Offshore Wind Solutions

Interested in exploring how autonomous technologies can help you accelerate the development of an offshore wind farm more quickly and effectively?

Tell us about your wind farm project and get started planning your solution today.