KORTHOS / ECOSYSTEM / PRODUCT

Saildrone Explorer

About

About Saildrone Explorer

Saildrone Explorer is a seven-metre wind- and solar-powered uncrewed surface vehicle built for persistent environmental observation. Its rigid wing provides propulsion, while solar generation powers meteorological, oceanographic and communications equipment during missions extending across remote and extreme waters.

Sensor configurations measure wind, waves, temperature, salinity, carbon, fish abundance and ecosystem conditions. Explorer vehicles have completed ocean crossings, hurricane missions and fisheries surveys and can remain deployed for months with shore-based supervision. Collected data are transmitted by satellite for scientific, commercial and government users.

07 APR 2026

Maritime autonomy is broadening

Capabilities

Source-backed capabilities

  • Capability areas: Autonomous navigation
  • Workflows: Autonomous Surface Vessel, Marine data collection, Maritime USV
  • Operating environments: Outdoor field environment
  • Target markets: Oceanographic researchers and environmental monitoring agencies.
  • Deployment model: Commercial autonomous surface vehicle with global ocean deployment.
  • Autonomous surface transit

    Commercial deployment - Saildrone documents Explorer conducting autonomous long-duration ocean data collection, mapping and maritime-domain-awareness missions.

    Source
  • Extended sea endurance

    Commercial deployment - Saildrone documents Explorer conducting autonomous long-duration ocean data collection, mapping and maritime-domain-awareness missions.

    Source
  • Environmental monitoring

    Commercial deployment - Saildrone documents Explorer conducting autonomous long-duration ocean data collection, mapping and maritime-domain-awareness missions.

    Source
  • ISR and tactical support

    Commercial deployment - Saildrone documents Explorer conducting autonomous long-duration ocean data collection, mapping and maritime-domain-awareness missions.

    Source

Operations

  • Operating Milestone

    6 months at sea - 2020-07-17 - Tropical Atlantic Mission Wraps Up After 6 Months at Sea

    Source
  • Operating Milestone

    2 Saildrone USVs - 2020-07-17 - Tropical Atlantic Mission Wraps Up After 6 Months at Sea

    Source

Deployments

  • Operating Use

    Multiyear Explorer hurricane-monitoring programme with NOAA - NOAA - maritime - Saildrone documented its multiyear Explorer hurricane-monitoring mission with NOAA.

    Source
  • Operating Use

    Explorer USVs integrated into Task Force 59 and partner exercises - U.S. Fifth Fleet / Task Force 59 - maritime - Saildrone documented Explorer USVs integrated with U.S. Fifth Fleet and partner exercises under Task Force 59.

    Source

Observed use

Exact-product configurations are shown without inferring supply, purchase, customer status, standard fit, deployment or partnership.

  • Simrad EK80 echo sounder

    Research Experiment - Mounted - Physical - Saildrone vehicles joined MBARI's CANON multiplatform ocean-observation experiment.

    Source

Timeline

  • Saildrone assigns 10 Explorer USVs to NOAA’s 2026 hurricane mission

    2026-05-21 - Deployment - The vehicles are scheduled for the Atlantic, Caribbean and Gulf from July through November. Two Explorers will carry NOAA ASVCO2 sensors for ocean-atmosphere carbon-dioxide measurements. NOAA will set mission objectives while Saildrone operators position the vehicles around developing storms.

    Source
  • Two Saildrone USVs complete six-month Tropical Atlantic mission

    2020-07-17 - Deployment - The vehicles operated from January through July 2020. The mission supported NOAA’s ATOMIC research campaign. The USVs continued measurements after the campaign’s initial intensive observation period.

    Source

Context

Market context

Explorer is Saildrone autonomous surface vehicle for ocean data collection using wind and solar power for long-duration missions.

  • Target environment: Open ocean and coastal marine environments.
  • Workflow context: Ocean data collection, environmental monitoring and climate research using wind and solar-powered autonomous surface vehicles.
  • Customer context: Oceanographic researchers and environmental monitoring agencies.
  • Deployment model: Commercial autonomous surface vehicle with global ocean deployment.
  • Commercial maturity: Established USV platform with broad research and government adoption.
  • Adoption constraints: Wind and solar propulsion limits speed. Best suited to persistent monitoring missions.
  • Market position: Saildrone foundational USV platform for long-duration ocean data collection and environmental monitoring.
  • Adjacent products: Saildrone Voyager, Surveyor, ocean monitoring USVs

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