ecoSUB Robotics

What ecoSUB Robotics does

ecoSUB Robotics is a UK-based designer and manufacturer of small, low-cost Autonomous Underwater Vehicles (AUVs), operating as a division of Planet Ocean Limited. The company produces two core platforms — the ecoSUBu5 micro-AUV (500 m rated, ~4 kg) and the ecoSUBm5/ecoSUBm25 small-AUVs (500 m and 2,500 m rated, ~12 kg) — distinguished by proprietary moving-mass pitch control, magnetic-coupling drive without rotating shaft seals, hot-swappable nose-cone payloads, and a front-seat / back-seat software architecture supporting ROS, Python and C++. Modular add-ons include the Power+ endurance extension, ecoCAM 4K camera with Nvidia Jetson Orin Nano edge compute, Hermes C3 command/control/communications box, and a Network Localisation system delivering +/- 5 m acoustic positioning. Pre-configured Science, Scout, and Hydrocarbon Sniffer series target oceanographic research, survey, and offshore oil-and-gas use cases.

The company serves three primary verticals: marine science and academia (BAS, NOC, SAMS, WHOI, Plymouth Marine Laboratory and others), defence (Royal Navy Project HECLA, DSTL, NATO REPMUS), and commercial offshore energy (BP International, which led the ecoSUBm design, and Oil Spill Response Limited). Revenue is generated through direct one-time hardware sales (ecoSUBu5 priced at approximately £15,000 vs. traditional AUVs at >£500k), supplemented by service/maintenance programmes, training, and spare-parts sales. Distribution combines direct enterprise sales with an exclusive international distributor network spanning Japan (Nippon Kaiyo), France/Belgium/Spain/Portugal (EMS), Southern Africa (Lwandle Marine), Canada (Teramara), and Australia (Metocean Services).

Commercially, ecoSUB has been incubated through UK public funding (Innovate UK, DSTL, Net Zero Technology Centre) and collaborative R&D with NOC's Marine Autonomous Robotics Systems group, with whom the engineering team is co-located at the Marine Robotics Innovation Centre in Southampton. The SoAR (Squads of Adaptive Robots) project and Smart Sound Connect Subsurface (SSCS) trials site participation represent the company's move from single-vehicle sales toward fleet-level autonomy and integrated testbed ecosystems.

Name

ecoSUB Robotics

Legal name

Planet Ocean Limited

Website

https://ecosub.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

2015

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

ecoSUB Robotics designs and manufactures small, low-cost Autonomous Underwater Vehicles (ecoSUBu5, ecoSUBm5, ecoSUBm25) priced around £15,000, serving marine science, defence, and offshore energy customers worldwide via direct sales and exclusive international distributors.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Autonomous Underwater Vehicles

NAICS

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

SIC

Search, Detection, Navagation, Guidance, Aeronautical Sys (3812)

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), Autonomy Software, AI & Mission Management (UAS/UXV) (IMABAIAH)

Keywords

• Autonomous underwater vehicles
• Marine robotics systems
• AUV manufacturing
• Subsea survey technology
• Underwater data collection

Headquarters

HQ city

Camberley

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. AUV Hardware Sales: ecoSUB manufactures and sells a range of micro and small AUVs including ecoSUBu5 (500m rated, ~4kg), ecoSUBm5 (500m rated) and ecoSUBm25 (2,500m rated), along with pre-configured series variants (Science, Scout, Hydrocarbon Sniffer). Vehicles are sold directly and through international distributors.
2. Service, Maintenance and Support: ecoSUB offers annual service programmes for all vehicles including comprehensive inspection, systems test and firmware upgrades. Vehicles requiring maintenance can be returned for inspection and repair. Technical support is provided by a team of engineers and specialists.
3. Training Services: ecoSUB offers a range of training services including online sessions and on-water full mission training for users.
4. Spare Parts Sales: Spare parts for vehicles are available for purchase to support extended field deployments and replace damaged components.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

ecoSUB Robotics designs, develops, and manufactures small, lightweight, one-person portable Autonomous Underwater Vehicles (AUVs) — including the ecoSUBu5 micro-AUV (500 m, 4 kg) and ecoSUBm5/m25 small-AUVs (500 m/2,500 m, 12 kg) — along with hot-swappable payload modules, the Hermes C3 communications box, the ecoCAM 4K camera, the ecoSUB C3 GUI mission planning software, and supporting training, service, and spare parts for science, defence, and offshore energy customers worldwide.

Product overview

ecoSUB Robotics, a division of Planet Ocean Limited, offers a portfolio of small, affordable Autonomous Underwater Vehicles (AUVs) designed to democratize access to marine autonomous systems. The core product line consists of two platform sizes: the ecoSUBu5 micro-AUV (500 m rated, 4 kg) and the ecoSUBm5/m25 small-AUVs (500 m and 2,500 m rated respectively, 12 kg). Both platforms share a modular architecture with hot-swappable nose cones for field-reconfigurable payloads. The product range is organized into three pre-configured sub-brands: Science Series (for oceanographic sensing: CTD, dissolved oxygen, chlorophyll-a, pH, turbidity), Scout Series (for survey with side scan sonar and DVL navigation), and Hydrocarbon Sniffer Series (for offshore oil and gas with oil-in-water detection). Key add-on modules include Power+ (extended endurance via doubled battery capacity), ecoCAM (4K video and imaging), Hermes C3 (command, control and communications hub), and Network Localisation & Advanced Navigation (acoustic network-based positioning). All vehicles are operated via the ecoSUB C3 GUI mission planning software, with a front seat/back seat architecture allowing users to integrate their own sensors, code, or algorithms.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• ecoSUB: Brand name for the company's range of Autonomous Underwater Vehicles (AUVs), including micro-AUV (ecoSUBu5) and small-AUV (ecoSUBm5, ecoSUBm25) platforms.
• ecoCAM
• Hermes C3
• Power+

Products and services

• ecoSUBu5 - 500 m rated Micro-AUV Ultra-compact, one-person portable micro-AUV (925 mm length, 111 mm diameter, 4 kg with alkaline batteries), rated to 500 m depth. Maintains cylinder rule with antenna in line with the body for tube launch applications; supports science, scout and hydrocarbon sniffer payload configurations.
• ecoSUBm5 - 500 m rated Small-AUV Small-AUV platform (1000 mm length, 146 mm diameter, 12 kg with alkaline batteries), rated to 500 m depth, with larger payload capacity than the ecoSUBu5. Supports multiple simultaneous sensors, side scan sonar, DVL, and the Power+ endurance module for science, survey, and hydrocarbon detection applications.
• ecoSUBm25 - 2,500 m rated Small-AUV Deep-rated small-AUV platform (1000 mm length, 146 mm diameter, 12 kg with alkaline batteries), rated to 2,500 m depth. Compatible with all m-series payloads including Power+, ecoCAM, side scan sonar, and DVL; also available with a 500 m shallow-water option.
• Science Series (ecoSUBu5-Science and ecoSUBm-Science) Pre-configured AUV series focused on measuring physical and biogeochemical parameters for research, commercial and defence applications. Vehicles equipped to measure Conductivity, Temperature, Salinity, Speed of Sound, Chlorophyll-a, Turbidity, Dissolved Oxygen, and pH.
• Scout Series (Survey) Pre-configured AUV series for survey applications including ecoSUBm5-Scout Lite, Scout, and Scout+ variants. Equipped with Side Scan Sonar (Marine Sonic Technology) and DVL for high accuracy navigation, especially when used with Network Localisation. Targets offshore wind, survey, and inspection use cases.
• Hydrocarbon Sniffer Series Pre-configured AUV series for detection and measurement of crude oil in water using the Seabird Scientific SeaOWL sensor. Provides low-cost solutions for rapid and targeted data collection for offshore oil and gas, including emergency response incidents and oil plume tracking.
• Power+ Extended Endurance Module 27 cm extension module for ecoSUBm5 and m25 AUVs that doubles normal battery capacity, increasing endurance and facilitating higher power payloads. Depth rated to 2,500 m; also provides additional space for dry electronics.
• Hermes C3 Command, Control and Communications Box

Quantifiable outcome

• ecoSUBu5 deployed in Arctic to investigate calving ice shelves - demonstrating deployment in environments too dangerous for human crews
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers24 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability7 records

Feature10 records

Partnerships

15 partnerships are on record, tiered core, minor and major.

• Plymouth Marine Laboratory (PML)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2023Co-leader with University of Plymouth of the Smart Sound Connect Subsurface (SSCS) £1.2m three-year project - a new underwater trials site at Plymouth Sound. ecoSUB Robotics participated in the first major multi-platform demonstration at this UK premier marine autonomy testbed.
• University of PlymouthcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2023Co-leader with Plymouth Marine Laboratory of the Smart Sound Connect Subsurface (SSCS) £1.2m three-year project at Plymouth Sound. The project established a seabed node array for underwater positioning and communications, positioning Plymouth as a world-leading hub for marine autonomy and ocean sensing technology development.
• Nippon Kaiyo Co., LtdcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 January 2023Exclusive distributor for ecoSUB AUVs in Japan. Nippon Kaiyo has an ecoSUBm5-Scout+ AUV available for demonstrations featuring side scan sonar, CT sensor, DVL and nano-modem, providing local sales support and customer demonstrations in the Japanese market.
• TeramaracoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 January 2023Exclusive distributor for ecoSUB AUVs in Canada. Headquartered in Kensington, PEI, Canada. Provides local sales and support for Canadian marine science and commercial customers.
• WWF GhostNetZerominorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2023ecoSUB supports the WWF GhostNetZero project which uses cutting-edge AI technology and sonar data to detect and locate ghost nets (abandoned fishing gear). ecoSUB AUV users with side scan sonar systems can contribute sonar data to the WWF sonar map, which AI analyses to identify ghost net locations for recovery by dedicated projects.
• Sonardyne InternationalcoreTechnology or Integration · 1 January 2021Partner in SoAR (Squads of Adaptive Robots) project. Sonardyne provided AvTrak 6 Nano acoustic transceivers fitted to ecoSUB AUVs for inter-medium communications, enabling simultaneous USBL tracking and robust telemetry for AUV-to-vessel and AUV-to-AUV communications. Also provides HPT 3000 transceiver for Sonardyne REAV-60 USV used as AUV swarm communications gateway.
• HydroSurvmajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2021Partner in SoAR project. HydroSurv provided REAV-60 USV 'Decibel' for fleet operations and served as the shore-based Remote Operations Centre in Exeter from which the deployed SoAR fleet was managed using 4G/LTE and Iridium communications.
• Royal Holloway, University of LondonmajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2021Partner in SoAR project. Developed the fleet-level autonomy engine that served as the mission's central nervous system, making real-time decisions and replanning based on mission execution, vehicle faults, changing operating environment, or addition/removal of stations.
• Offshore Renewable Energy (ORE) CatapultmajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2021Partner in SoAR project. Conducted comprehensive business case analysis for offshore wind sector applications. The SoAR concept was strategically tailored to address specific needs of the offshore wind sector for new operating paradigms and cost savings in asset construction and maintenance.
• University of NewcastlemajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2019Partner in Innovate UK funded LCAT project for Network Localisation development. Jeff Neasham and team from Newcastle University collaborated on acoustic network-aided localisation technology for micro-AUVs, resulting in the Field Robotics journal publication.
• EMS Systèmes de Monitorage EnvironnementalcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 January 2019Exclusive distributor for ecoSUB AUVs in France, Belgium, Spain and Portugal. EMS has an excellent reputation working within the marine science communities in these countries and provides local sales and support.
• Lwandle Marine Environmental ServicescoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 January 2019Exclusive distributor for ecoSUB AUVs covering South Africa, Mozambique, Tanzania, Kenya, Namibia, and Angola. Headquartered in Cape Town, South Africa, providing local sales and support for Southern African markets.
• Metocean Services International Pty LtdcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 January 2019Exclusive distributor for ecoSUB AUVs in Australia, providing local sales and support for Australian marine science and commercial markets.
• BP InternationalcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2016The design of ecoSUBm was led by BP International who supported its development. Dr Peter Collinson from BP led many developments of marine robotic technology including ecoSUB for subsea inspection, survey and environmental/crisis applications. BP provided key stakeholder input for commercial offshore energy use cases.
• National Oceanography Centre (NOC) - MARS GroupcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2015ecoSUB AUVs were developed through extensive collaboration with the Marine Autonomous Robotics Systems (MARS) group at NOC. Dr Alex Phillips from NOC's MARS group provided technical leadership during early system development. ecoSUB engineering team is based at NOC's Marine Robotics Innovation Centre. Ongoing collaboration on Innovate UK projects (LCAT, SoAR) and fleet operations.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Emerging players

• ACUA Ocean: UK-based hydrogen-powered unmanned surface vessel company participating alongside ecoSUB in the Smart Sound Connect Subsurface (SSCS) multi-robot demonstration. Comparable UK marine-autonomy ecosystem participant with overlapping partners and customers.
• Seaber: French micro-AUV developer (SEABER YUCO) competing in similar low-cost, portable underwater-vehicle tier. Direct competitor in European marine-science and survey markets and a participant in the SSCS demonstration alongside ecoSUB.
• Cellula Robotics: Canadian autonomous underwater vehicle company developing long-range XLAUVs (Solus-LR). Already an ecoSUB partner demonstrating XLAUV-launched ecoSUBu5 micro-AUVs; comparable in marine autonomy but focused on larger/longer-endurance platforms.
• Bedrock Ocean: US-based underwater autonomy company deploying small AUVs for subsea survey and inspection. Comparable to ecoSUB on small-AUV fleet deployments for offshore survey customers, though Bedrock operates a service model rather than selling vehicles.

Direct peers

• Hydromea: Swiss-based developer of small, portable autonomous underwater vehicles (ExRay AUV, Vertex AUV) targeting similar low-cost, portable underwater inspection use cases. Closest direct peer to ecoSUB on form factor and price-point positioning.
• Blueye Robotics: Norwegian manufacturer of compact underwater drones (Blueye Pioneer, Pro) for inspection and survey. Comparable to ecoSUB on portable underwater-vehicle form factor and price-tier, though more observational ROV-oriented than autonomous AUV.

Broad incumbents

• Saab (Sabertooth / Sea Wasp): Swedish defence prime offering the Sabertooth AUV for commercial and defence customers. Incumbent competitor with deeper defence-procurement access and global support infrastructure.
• Liquid Robotics (Boeing): US-based developer of the Wave Glider, an autonomous wave- and solar-powered surface platform. Adjacent autonomous marine platform with overlapping defence/offshore-energy customer base.
• Teledyne Marine (Hydroid): US-based supplier of REMUS AUVs (acquired via Hydroid) widely used by US Navy, science and survey customers. Broad incumbent competitor in the AUV market across defence, hydrography and ocean science.
• Kongsberg Maritime: Norwegian marine-technology major producing HUGIN and other work-class AUVs at the high end of the market. Represents the incumbent cost benchmark (>£500k) that ecoSUB's low-cost positioning explicitly targets.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/EcosubL
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCaUYLrIC54xSCMJsKI4kA9g
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/ecosub-robotics-ltd

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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 ecoSUB Robotics