13 Drone Boat Manufacturers in 2024
This section provides an overview for drone boats as well as their applications and principles. Also, please take a look at the list of 13 drone boat manufacturers and their company rankings. Here are the top-ranked drone boat companies as of November, 2024: 1.Deep Ocean Engineering, Inc., 2.Saildrone, Inc, 3.SeaDrone Inc..
Table of Contents
What Is a Drone Boat?
While the term "drone" often brings to mind flying drones, it also encompasses a range of remote-controlled or autopilot vehicles, including drone boats. A drone boat is a small, boat-like vehicle designed to navigate water surfaces, controllable via remote control or autopilot.
Uses of Drone Boats
Drone boats have traditionally been used for hobbies, capable of moving above and below water. Equipped with cameras, they can capture images and monitor aquatic environments. In marine sports, they capture dynamic images by following competitors, while in fishing, they can locate fish schools and inspect ocean floors with underwater cameras.
Industrially, their use is expanding, especially in fishing, where automated drone boats are replacing manned vessels for tasks like feeding, surveying, and monitoring. Various demonstrations, including unmanned fish trawlers and anti-poaching efforts, are underway.
How Drone Boats Work
Drone boats vary in size, from hand-held to those that can carry two or three people, and are operated using dedicated controllers or smart devices. Autopilot drones navigate pre-set routes with GPS systems.
Similar to aerial drones' hovering capability, some drone boats feature 'virtual anchoring' to maintain position against water currents, using GPS data for directional control and navigation.
Challenges for Drone Boats
The first challenge is motor power limitation, as their small size restricts the capacity of motors and batteries, limiting speed and operational duration. Legal size restrictions also hinder full operational replacement with drone boats. Additionally, strong winds and high waves can impede movement and pose risks, while variable water currents make manual maneuvering difficult in certain conditions.
List of 13 Drone Boat Manufacturers
*Including some distributors, etc.
Sort by Features
- Default
- Company Size: largest first
- Year Founded: oldest first
- Year Founded: earliest first
Sort by Area
- United States of America
- China
- France
- Netherlands
- Norway
- Spain
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Deep Ocean Engineering, Inc.
THE PHANTOM® I-1650 USV
Manufacturer Overview
Deep Ocean Engineering Inc., founded in 1982 and based out of San Jose, California, United States, is a designer and manufacturer of mechanical and industrial equipment for various kinds of underwater applications. The company's main products include remotely operated vehicles (ROVs) and unmanned surface vehicles (USVs). These products are used by various industries, including law enforcement, homeland security, and science applications. The company offers a range of support packages, depending on the needs of each client.
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blueye.no
Underwater drones
Manufacturer Overview
Blueye, founded in 2015 and headquartered in Trondheim, Norway, is a manufacturer of underwater drone technology that enables accessible and efficient underwater exploration. The company offers various products, including underwater drones equipped with high-resolution cameras and sensors, remote controls, and cloud-based data sharing platforms. These products provide benefits such as real-time visual inspection, marine research, and data collection in challenging underwater environments. Marine research, aquaculture, offshore energy, and environmental monitoring sectors use the products for deep-sea exploration and documentation. The products’ user-friendliness and intuitive operation help users conduct underwater operations, facilitating ocean exploration and research.
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PowerVision Inc.
PowerRay
Manufacturer Overview
PowerVision Inc., established in 2009 and based in Beijing, China, is a manufacturer of aerial, water-surface, and underwater robotic devices. The company specializes in water-surface robotics and drones, state-of-the-art artificial intelligence, and consumer UAVs. Its product range includes PowerDolphin, PowerRay, and the AI camera. It uses intelligent sensor technology and AI algorithms to redefine artificial intelligence and miniaturization industries. The company’s products serve various markets, including aquaculture, search and rescue, and consumer markets.
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Aquatic Drones
Autonomous Surface Vessel
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Drone Boat Manufacturer Ranking
*Including some distributors, etc.Ranking as of November 2024
Derivation Method| Rank | Company | Click Share |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Deep Ocean Engineering, Inc. |
16.2%
|
| 2 | Saildrone, Inc |
11.3%
|
| 3 | SeaDrone Inc. |
10.5%
|
| 4 | GPASEABOTS |
9.0%
|
| 5 | blueye.no |
7.5%
|
| 6 | PowerVision Inc. |
7.4%
|
| 7 | RanMarine Technology |
7.3%
|
| 8 | Aquatic Drones |
7.1%
|
| 9 | Marine Tech SAS |
6.9%
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| 10 | SUBSEA TECH |
6.3%
|
Derivation Method
The ranking is calculated based on the click share within the drone boat page as of November 2024. Click share is defined as the total number of clicks for all companies during the period divided by the number of clicks for each company.Number of Employees
Newly Established Company
- GPASEABOTS: 2019 (5 years ago)
- RanMarine Technology: 2016 (8 years ago)
- blueye.no: 2015 (9 years ago)
Company with a History
- SUBSEA TECH: 2005 (19 years ago)
- OceanAlpha Group Ltd.: 2010 (14 years ago)
- blueye.no: 2015 (9 years ago)
Drone Boat Manufacturers in United States
*Including some distributors, etc.
Global Distribution of Drone Boat Manufacturers by Country
*Including some distributors, etc.
| Country | Number of Companies | Share (%) |
|---|---|---|
United States of America
|
3 | 27.3% |
France
|
3 | 27.3% |
China
|
2 | 18.2% |
Norway
|
1 | 9.1% |
Netherlands
|
1 | 9.1% |
Spain
|
1 | 9.1% |
