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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 February, 2025: 1.Deep Ocean Engineering, Inc., 2.Saildrone, Inc, 3.SeaDrone Inc..
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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.
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.
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.
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.
*Including some distributors, etc.
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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.
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.
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.
Ranking as of February 2025
Derivation Method| Rank | Company | Click Share |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Deep Ocean Engineering, Inc. |
26.9%
|
| 2 | Saildrone, Inc |
9.8%
|
| 3 | SeaDrone Inc. |
9.5%
|
| 4 | GPASEABOTS |
7.7%
|
| 5 | blueye.no |
6.5%
|
| 6 | PowerVision Inc. |
6.4%
|
| 7 | Aquatic Drones |
6.3%
|
| 8 | RanMarine Technology |
5.9%
|
| 9 | Marine Tech SAS |
5.8%
|
| 10 | SUBSEA TECH |
5.5%
|
Derivation Method
The ranking is calculated based on the click share within the drone boat page as of February 2025. 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
Company with a History
*Including some distributors, etc.
*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% |
2 products found
2 products
Homura Heavy Industries Co., Ltd.
80+ people viewing
Last viewed: 1 hour ago
Standard Response
■Small water drone that anyone can operate ・The smallest water drone equipped with a camera - Maneuver the ship to the places you want to see, eve...
YTK
70+ people viewing
Last viewed: 1 hour ago
Standard Response
■Drone motor ・Waterproof/dustproof carbon fiber shell ・High precision fly control system ・Long flight time ・Autopilot - Specially designed for ...
