What Idrobotica does

Idrobotica SA is a privately held Swiss manufacturer of underwater Remotely Operated Vehicles (ROVs) headquartered in Balerna, Switzerland, founded in the 1970s by Guido Gay. The company designs and produces the PLUTO FAMILY of internally powered ROVs — PLUTO PLUS, PLUTO GIGAS, MIKI, and MULTIPLUTO — alongside a complementary accessory portfolio including control consoles, the PILOTA command and control system, radiobuoy wireless links, umbilical winches, manipulator arms, and a piloting simulator. Its core technical differentiation is an internally powered battery architecture with a 3.5mm umbilical cable (versus the 10-30mm industry standard), carbon-fiber pressure-resistant cylinders without floatation foam, and pressure-compensated brushless thrusters engineered for very low acoustic and magnetic signature. The company holds ISO 9001 certification and has deployed systems in service with more than 12 navies globally and at universities and scientific institutes, with depth ratings from 300m (PLUTO PLUS) to 4000m (MULTIPLUTO).

The business model is direct, high-touch enterprise sales of customized hardware to government naval agencies and scientific institutions, with systems installed and supported on a minimum 20-year service commitment and global deployment capability. Revenue is generated primarily through hardware sales of ROVs and accessories, augmented by installation, training, and after-sale technical support. The company operates with approximately 30 staff concentrated in R&D, production, quality control, and management, with no external investors, distributors, or digital channels evident. Pricing is quote-based, sales are field-driven, and the customer base is concentrated in a small number of institutional buyers across the defense, scientific research, and search-and-rescue segments.

Name

Idrobotica

Legal name

IDROBOTICA SA

Website

https://idrobotica.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1970

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Idrobotica SA is a privately held Swiss manufacturer of battery-powered underwater ROVs (the PLUTO FAMILY), selling customized systems and accessories directly to international navies for mine countermeasures and to universities for deep-ocean scientific research, with 20-year support commitments.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Balerna

HQ country

Switzerland

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. ROV Hardware Sales: Sale of underwater ROV systems including Pluto Gigas, Pluto Plus, Miki, and Multipluto models with varying depth ratings and capabilities for defense and scientific applications
2. Accessories and Add-ons: Sales of complementary equipment including control consoles, portable consoles, umbilical cable management winches, manipulator arms, radio buoys, and simulators
3. Technical Support and Maintenance Services: Installation services, operator and maintenance training courses, and after-sale support with minimum 20-year system support commitment and global deployment capability

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels2 records

Core offering

IDROBOTICA designs, develops and manufactures high-performance battery-powered underwater Remotely Operated Vehicles (ROVs) under the PLUTO FAMILY brand for military sea defence, mine countermeasures, harbour security and deep ocean scientific research. The company produces complete ROV systems (MULTIPLUTO, PLUTO PLUS, PLUTO GIGAS, MIKI) complemented by an accessory ecosystem (control consoles, PILOTA command system, radiobuoy, umbilical winches, manipulator arms, simulators) sold with installation, training and long-term support services.

Product overview

IDROBOTICA is a world leader in high-performance underwater ROV (Remotely Operated Vehicle) systems with over 40 years of experience. The company offers the PLUTO FAMILY of battery-powered ROVs including MULTIPLUTO (ultra-deep scientific research, 4000m), PLUTO PLUS (medium mine-hunting, 300m), PLUTO GIGAS (heavy-duty mine-hunting, 600m), and MIKI (disposable mine clearance). The product portfolio is supported by a comprehensive accessory ecosystem including Control Consoles, Portable Consoles, PILOTA command and control systems, Radiobuoy wireless links, Umbilical Cable Management Winches, Manipulator Arms, and ROV Piloting Simulators. The PLUTO FAMILY ROVs are specifically designed for military sea defence, harbour security, and underwater scientific research applications, featuring internally powered designs with ultra-thin 3.5mm diameter umbilical cables for enhanced underwater maneuverability.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• PLUTO FAMILY: Line of battery-powered underwater ROVs including PLUTO PLUS, PLUTO GIGAS, MIKI, and MULTIPLUTO models, characterized by internally powered design and thin 3.5mm umbilical cables for enhanced underwater maneuverability.

Products and services

• MULTIPLUTO ROV High-performance compact observation ROV designed for very deep ocean exploration. Depth rated to 4000 meters, weighs 58-60 kg, features HD TV camcorder with 20 Megapixel still camera, sonar, LED floodlight, and laser gauge on a SWAN head supported by an articulated neck. Four pressure-compensated brushless thrusters enable precise navigation. Portable configuration deployable from small vessels including rubber dinghies. Used by ocean science and seabed imaging programs in biology, geology, oceanology, sampling, archaeology, wreck inspection and object recovery.
• PLUTO PLUS ROV Medium-sized underwater ROV primarily used for mine identification and disposal. Operates in up to 3 knots tidal current and zero visibility conditions at depths up to 300m. Features wireless radio link control capability via radiobuoy and supports autonomous preprogrammed missions.
• PLUTO GIGAS ROV Large heavy-duty ROV for mine identification and disposal at depths up to 600m. Operates in extreme conditions including 5 knots current and zero visibility. Features eight thrusters for precise navigation control with extremely low acoustic and magnetic signature per military standards.
• MIKI (Mine Killer) ROV Small disposable ROV designed for rapid mine hunting and destruction in crisis situations. Disposable vehicle capable of carrying directional or omni-directional charges, designed to be sacrificial when positively identifying mines.
• Control Console Complete ROV command and control station for PLUTO Family ROVs, equipped with two 24-inch high-resolution monitors and control panel with joysticks and tactile screen. Powers the umbilical cable management winch motor.
• Portable Console Small-sized portable ROV command and control device with 12-inch high-resolution monitor, foldable and lightweight design for easily deployable ROV systems.
• PILOTA Command and Control System Advanced mine-hunters command and control system for controlling and coordinating all mine search, identification and disposal tasks. Interfaced with ship sensors and equipment, includes integrated autopilot for navigation and dynamic positioning.

Named customers2 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves4 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/idrobotica
• Facebookfacebook.com/Idrobotica-di-G-Gay-e-Co-1414948648752766
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/idrobotica

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

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 Idrobotica