What Sublue Ocean Science & Technology does

Sublue Ocean Science & Technology (深之蓝海洋科技股份有限公司), doing business internationally as Deepinfar, is a Tianjin-headquartered high-tech enterprise founded in 2013 by former military researcher Wei Jiancang that designs, manufactures, and sells underwater robotic systems for both industrial and consumer markets. The industrial portfolio spans four ROV series (Performer micro tool-class, Hepu/Hetu micro observation, Jiangtun small work-class, Haitun light work-class to 1,000m depth), two AUV series (Chengsha modular autonomous, Heisha mine/reconnaissance), the Haiyi underwater glider (exclusively licensed from CAS Shenyang Institute of Automation; 6,000m depth, 302-day endurance record), and the Hailing 2000 profiling buoy. Underlying technology is built around four self-developed pillars — underwater control/navigation/communication, full-system configuration and dual-mode swimming/crawling locomotion, high thrust-to-weight propulsion (verified 1,000+ hour continuous operation), and 10,000m-class pressure-resistant composite hulls — supplemented by the proprietary D-CVS computer vision system and 1:9000-accuracy real-time 3D stereo modeling. The consumer arm operates under the SUBLUE brand with 150,000+ thrusters sold globally and an estimated 60% share of the consumer underwater thruster segment.

The company operates a dual go-to-market model: direct enterprise sales and government tender bidding for industrial ROVs/AUVs/gliders deployed at named customers including Jiangsu Maritime Bureau, Tianjin Binhai New Area Emergency Office, South-to-North Water Transfer Project, China Communications First Navigation Bureau, Shenzhen/Beijing Water Groups, Blue Sky Rescue, China Red Cross, and Hainan Provincial Ocean Department; and e-commerce plus international retail distribution (JD.com, 70+ countries) for SUBLUE consumer thrusters. Revenue grew from 141M CNY (2022) to 251M CNY (2024) at a 33.23% CAGR; the company has raised 1.3B+ CNY across 10+ rounds from 40+ investors including Shunwei Capital (Lei Jun), Shenzhen Capital Group, and Cableway Investment, and has accepted CSRC IPO tutoring with CICC in January 2026 targeting a 1.5B yuan raise on the STAR Market. Accumulated losses stood at 622M CNY as of June 2025, with management guiding to profitability by 2026.

Name

Sublue Ocean Science & Technology

Legal name

深之蓝海洋科技股份有限公司

Website

https://deepinfar.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2013

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Sublue Ocean Science & Technology (Deepinfar) is a Tianjin-based underwater robotics company that designs and manufactures ROVs, AUVs, underwater gliders, and consumer thrusters for government, marine engineering, emergency rescue, water conservancy, and offshore energy customers across 70+ countries.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Underwater Robotics

NAICS

Search, Detection, Navigation, Guidance, Aeronautical, and Nautical System and Instrument Manufacturing (334511)

SIC

Search, Detection, Navagation, Guidance, Aeronautical Sys (3812), Guided Missiles & Space Vehicles & Parts (3760)

akta.pro primary industry

Marine & Underwater Robotics (USVs/UUVs) (HDAAAIAH)

akta.pro secondary industries

Unmanned Underwater Vehicle (UUV) & Autonomous Submersible Manufacturing (IMAJAOAC), Unmanned Underwater Vehicles (UUV) & Autonomous Subsea Platforms (IMABAIAF)

Keywords

• Underwater robotics
• Remotely operated vehicles
• Underwater inspection equipment
• Marine engineering solutions
• Consumer underwater propulsion

Headquarters

HQ city

Tianjin

HQ country

China

HQ region

Asia

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Supply Chain, Operations, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Industrial Underwater Robot Sales: Sale of industrial-grade ROVs (Performer, Hetun/Jiangtun, Haitun/海豚 series), AUVs (Chengsha, Heisha series), underwater gliders (Haiyi/海翼 series), and profiling buoys (Hailing 2000/海翎2000) to government agencies, marine engineering firms, water conservancy facilities, and emergency rescue organizations. Products are sold directly and through enterprise sales channels for national projects.
2. Consumer Underwater Propulsion Devices: SUBLUE branded underwater thrusters and propulsion devices sold directly to consumers via e-commerce platforms (JD.com) and global retail distribution. Over 150,000 units sold globally, commanding approximately 60% global market share in consumer underwater thruster segment.
3. Engineering Services: Technical services including underwater inspection, survey, and monitoring services for water conservancy projects, offshore facilities, and emergency rescue operations. Services provided alongside product deployments for complex underwater tasks.
4. Customized/ODM Products: Customized ROV solutions and specialized underwater robot configurations tailored to specific customer requirements for unique operational scenarios.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion4 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Sublue Ocean Science & Technology designs, manufactures, and sells industrial and consumer underwater robots. Industrial offerings include ROVs (Performer, Hetun, Jiangtun, Haitun series), AUVs (Chengsha, Heisha series), underwater gliders (Haiyi), and profiling buoys (Hailing 2000), deployed for marine engineering, emergency rescue, water conservancy, and ocean research. Consumer offerings under the SUBLUE brand include underwater scooters and pump-jet thrusters (White Shark MAX/MINI/MIX, VAPOR series), sold globally with 150,000+ units delivered.

Product overview

Sublue Ocean Science & Technology (Deepinfar/深之蓝) offers a comprehensive underwater robotics portfolio comprising industrial-grade and consumer-grade products. Industrial ROVs include the Performer Series (micro tool-class), 河豚/Hetu Series (micro observation), 江豚/Jiangtun Series (small work-class), and 海豚/Haitun Series (light work-class, 1000m depth). AUVs include the 橙鲨/Orange Shark Series (modular autonomous) and 黑鲨/Black Shark Series (high search capability). The 海翼/Sea Wing underwater glider achieves 6000m depth with 302-day endurance. Consumer products under SUBLUE brand include the 白鲨/White Shark series underwater robots and VAPOR pump-jet thrusters. The company also offers custom ROV solutions, profiling buoys (海翎2000), and payload accessories. The product ecosystem serves marine engineering, emergency rescue, hydropower inspection, aquaculture, environmental monitoring, and security applications.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Performer Series: Lightweight, flexible, cost-effective micro tool-class ROV series with vector layout structure for underwater stability
• Hepu (河豚) Series
• Jiangtun (江豚) Series
• Haidun (海豚) Series
• Chengsha (橙鲨) Series
• Heisha (黑鲨) Series
• Haiyi (海翼)
• Hailing 2000 (海翎2000)
• OTTER
• Haitun (海豚) Series ROV
• DEEPINFAR
• SUBLUE

Products and services

• Performer Series ROV (Micro Tool-Class) Lightweight, flexible, cost-effective micro tool-class ROVs using vector layout structure that resist water flow disturbances and maintain stability underwater. Can carry multiple sensors for underwater observation and various work payloads. Targeted at industrial customers requiring portable inspection capability.
• Hetun/Hepu Series ROV (河豚, Micro ROV) Industry-leading micro ROVs that are lightweight, portable, and rapidly deployable. Compact size allows entry into confined underwater spaces, configurable for full-attitude modes with various micro sensors and payloads for inland water and nearshore marine observation. Targeted at emergency rescue and inspection applications.
• Jiangtun Series ROV (江豚, Small ROV) Industry-leading small ROVs with excellent power and current resistance capabilities, featuring strong load capacity. Expandable with various sensors and payloads for rescue, salvage, and emergency operations in inland waters and nearshore marine environments. The Jiangtun IV-C LD variant supports long tunnel inspection up to 3km working length.
• Haitun/Haidun Series ROV (海豚, Light Work-Class) Light work-class ROVs with extreme mobility and load capacity, supporting maximum 1,000m depth. Equipped with multiple high-performance electric thrusters for high-speed underwater movement and current resistance. Diverse sensor and tool configurations support offshore facility inspection, offshore wind farms, subsea cables, and platform structure monitoring.
• Chengsha Series AUV (橙鲨, Autonomous Underwater Vehicle) Completely self-developed medium/small AUVs featuring highly modular, intelligent, and customizable design. Compact structure with strong load capacity, excellent hydrodynamic performance, and high energy efficiency. Equipped with DVL+INS (fiber optic/laser)+GPS/BD navigation system for autonomous navigation. Targeted at oceanographic research and survey missions.
• Heisha Series AUV (黑鲨) AUV with high search capability, deployable via surface or underwater platforms. Used for mine detection, close reconnaissance, target search, and port security applications. Targeted at defense and maritime security customers.
• Haiyi Underwater Glider (海翼/Sea Wing) New type of ocean robot driven by buoyancy and attitude angle adjustment. Features real-time remote controllability and long endurance for multi-scale ocean process observation with high-resolution and precise measurement. Achieves continuous underwater operations up to 302 days using thermoelectric generation technology. Has completed Arctic scientific expeditions and Mariana Trench observations. Exclusively authorized by CAS Shenyang Institute of Automation for global commercialization.
• Hailing 2000 Profiling Buoy (海翎2000) Self-sinking and rising profiling buoy specifically for ocean subsurface temperature, salinity, and depth profile measurement. Uses hydraulic system to control buoyancy, changing density to achieve sinking, floating, or suspension at constant ocean depth, transmitting data via satellite. Targeted at oceanographic research and environmental monitoring applications.
• Customized ROV Solutions Customized ROV solutions designed according to specific customer requirements with flexible sensor and tool configurations for diverse underwater applications. Tailor-made solutions for specialized operational scenarios. Targeted at enterprise and government customers with unique operational needs.
• SUBLUE White Shark MAX & MINI Underwater Robots (白鲨MAX/白鲨MINI) Consumer underwater robots including White Shark MAX and White Shark MINI models for recreational and professional underwater exploration. Sold globally under the SUBLUE brand. White Shark MAX achieved 30,000 overseas orders upon launch. Used for both consumer recreation and professional rescue operations.
• SUBLUE White Shark MIX Underwater Scooter (白鲨MIX) Compact underwater scooter with dual propellers, launched as a consumer underwater propulsion device under the SUBLUE brand. Achieved 10,000+ orders shortly after launch. Targeted at recreational swimmers and diving enthusiasts seeking accessible underwater mobility.
• SUBLUE VAPOR Pump-Jet Underwater Thrusters Professional-grade pump-jet underwater thrusters under the SUBLUE brand, achieving 21kg thrust and 2.5m/s speed. Capable of 40m depth operation with low-noise, eco-friendly electric propulsion suitable for marine life protection. Targeted at professional divers and demanding consumer users.
• Underwater Engineering & Inspection Services Technical services including underwater inspection, survey, and monitoring services for water conservancy projects, offshore facilities, and emergency rescue operations. Services are provided alongside product deployments for complex underwater tasks, leveraging the company's ROVs, AUVs, and gliders. Targeted at government agencies, SOEs, and large infrastructure projects.

Quantifiable outcome

• Revenue growth from 141 million yuan (2022) to 251 million yuan (2024) with 33.23% compound annual growth rate
• +6 more outcomes

Named customers13 records

Segments7 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration2 records

AI capability9 records

Feature8 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered minor, core, major and strategic.

• Oceans International Exhibition (OI London)minorGTM or Marketing Partner · 25 April 2024Deepinfar participates in the Oceanology International London exhibition annually to showcase ROV products and establish international distributor relationships.
• Chinese Academy of Sciences Shenyang Institute of Automation (中科院沈阳自动化研究所)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 23 November 2016Deepinfar holds exclusive authorization from CAS Shenyang Institute of Automation for global promotion, sales, and technical services of the 'Haiyi' (海翼) underwater glider. This partnership enables Deepinfar to offer the Haiyi for ocean observation missions including Arctic expeditions and Mariana Trench observations.
• Hainan Provincial Ocean Department and Sanya Ocean LaboratorymajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDeepinfar collaborated with Hainan Provincial Ocean Department and Sanya Ocean Laboratory to successfully complete ocean observation missions in the Xisha Islands area of the South China Sea using customized Haiyi underwater gliders.
• China Communications First Navigation Bureau (中交一航局)majorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerDeepinfar served as underwater monitoring technology partner for China's largest cross-section and longest single-span inland immersed tunnel project (Tanzhou Tunnel), providing real-time underwater monitoring using Jiangtun IV-C ROV.
• Blue Sky Rescue Team (蓝天救援队)strategicImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerDeepinfar collaborates with Blue Sky Rescue Team for underwater rescue training and joint operations. Provides equipment training and technical support for water search and rescue missions.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• VideoRay: US-based manufacturer of micro and small observation-class ROVs for defense, security, and commercial inspection. Directly comparable as a competitor in the small/micro ROV segment for search, rescue, inspection, and security applications.
• QYSEA Technology: China-based competitor in consumer and prosumer underwater drones, with the FIFISH product line. Directly comparable as the closest Chinese peer in consumer underwater propulsion and imaging drones, competing head-to-head with SUBLUE.
• SMD (Soil Machine Dynamics): UK-based manufacturer of subsea robotic systems including work-class ROVs and trenching equipment. Directly comparable in subsea robotics manufacturing with similar customer base in offshore energy, cable laying, and subsea intervention.
• Deep Trekker: Canada-based manufacturer of portable, battery-powered underwater ROVs for inspection, search and rescue, and aquaculture. Directly comparable in compact/portable ROV segment competing on similar portability and ease-of-deployment value propositions.
• Saab Seaeye: Sweden-based leading manufacturer of electric underwater robotic systems including observation-class and work-class ROVs. Directly comparable as a global provider of ROVs for inspection, intervention, and survey applications across offshore, defense, and security markets.
• Forum Energy Technologies: US-based provider of subsea robotics including the work-class ROV product line (formerly Perry Slingsby, Schilling Robotics). Directly comparable as a competitor in industrial work-class ROVs for offshore energy, subsea construction, and inspection.

Emerging players

• BlueRobotics: US-based developer of low-cost, open-source underwater vehicles and components for hobbyist, research, and light commercial applications. Comparable as an emerging player in the affordable underwater vehicle segment with overlapping do-it-yourself ROV market.

Broad incumbents

• Kongsberg Maritime: Norway-based global marine technology company providing AUVs, subsea positioning, and underwater sensor systems. Comparable as a broad incumbent with overlapping AUV/HUGIN product lines, deep ocean capability, and integrated navigation/sensor solutions.
• Teledyne Marine: US-based broad marine technology provider offering imaging, sensors, ROVs, and acoustic systems. Comparable as a broad incumbent supplying cameras, sonars, and integrated underwater solutions to ROV operators including Deepinfar competitors.
• Oceaneering International: US-based global provider of subsea robotics, ROV operations, and engineered services for offshore oil & gas, defense, and aerospace. Comparable as a broad incumbent offering ROVs and underwater services at a much larger scale, with significant market presence in offshore energy inspection.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@DeepinfarROV
• Facebookfacebook.com/profile.php?id=61553670471207
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/89899018/admin/page-posts/published

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds7 records

Investors10 records

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Sublue Ocean Science & Technology