Boxfish Robotics
Boxfish Robotics is a New Zealand-based company that designs and manufactures underwater ROVs, AUVs, and resident vehicles for marine research, environmental monitoring, asset inspection, and professional cinematography customers worldwide.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2016
- HeadquartersAuckland, New Zealand
- Headcount—
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What Boxfish Robotics does
Boxfish Robotics is a privately held New Zealand-based designer and manufacturer of underwater robotic vehicles, founded in 2016 in Auckland by three engineers seeking to modernize ROV technology that had stagnated since the 1990s. The company offers a portfolio spanning tethered remotely operated vehicles (Boxfish ROV, Boxfish Alpha), tetherless autonomous underwater vehicles (Boxfish AUV), resident autonomous vehicles (ARV-i developed jointly with Transmark Subsea and Krona Subsea), a cinema-grade cinematography drone (Boxfish Luna), and the Boxfish 360 underwater VR camera. Core technology includes a proprietary autonomy software stack (SafePath Planner) for geo-referenced autonomous transects, eight 3D-vectored thrusters providing six-degrees-of-freedom control with active stabilization, ultra-short baseline (USBL) positioning, stereo-camera photogrammetry, high-CRI underwater lighting, and a subsea docking system enabling months-long resident deployments. The company holds three granted US patents and integrates with third-party sensors and tooling from Valeport, Blueprint Subsea, Reach Robotics, Sony, and others.
The business model centers on hardware sales of vehicles and accessories (USBL positioning, DVL, multibeam sonar, pipe profiling sonar, cleaning brushes, grabbers, laser scalers, CTD/pH/turbidity/fluorometer/hydrophone sensors) complemented by custom engineering services and customer training/support. Pricing is quote-based and not publicly disclosed; customers engage directly or through authorized resellers. The go-to-market combines direct enterprise field sales with a global reseller network covering Australia, New Zealand, Norway/Europe, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, Taiwan, Malta, Bahrain, Brazil, the United Kingdom, and the United States, supported by active participation in marine science and offshore industry events. Customer segments span marine science and research institutions, environmental monitoring organizations, professional cinematography and documentary production, commercial diving and asset inspection, offshore wind, defense/security/government, and luxury superyacht operators. The company rebranded from Boxfish Research to Boxfish Robotics in 2023 to reflect the expanded portfolio spanning both tethered and untethered systems.
Boxfish Robotics firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Boxfish Robotics
- Legal name
- Boxfish Robotics Limited
- Website
- https://boxfishrobotics.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2016
- Operating status
- Operating
- Short description
- Boxfish Robotics is a New Zealand-based company that designs and manufactures underwater ROVs, AUVs, and resident vehicles for marine research, environmental monitoring, asset inspection, and professional cinematography customers worldwide.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Boxfish Robotics industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Underwater Robotics
- NAICS
- Search, Detection, Navigation, Guidance, Aeronautical, and Nautical System and Instrument Manufacturing (334511), Ship Building and Repairing (336611)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Marine & Underwater Robotics (USVs/UUVs) (HDAAAIAH)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Unmanned Underwater Vehicle (UUV) & Autonomous Submersible Manufacturing (IMAJAOAC)
Keywords
Where Boxfish Robotics is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Auckland
- HQ country
- New Zealand
- HQ region
- Oceania
Offices1 record
Markets served
Boxfish Robotics business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Personnel, Supply Chain, Technology or R&D, Operations, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Underwater Vehicle Sales: Sale of underwater robotic vehicles including ROVs (Boxfish ROV, Boxfish Alpha, Boxfish Luna) and AUVs (Boxfish AUV, ARV-i). Products are sold directly and through global reseller network with customization options available.
- Accessories and Add-ons: Sales of accessories including USBL positioning, DVL, multibeam sonar, pipe profiling sonar, cleaning brush, grabber, laser scalers, CTD sensors, pH sensors, turbidity sensors, fluorometers, hydrophones, external zoom cameras, and samplers.
- Custom Underwater Solutions: Custom engineering services for specific applications including underwater cameras, precision optics, custom ROVs, machine vision systems, measurement and sampling systems, and underwater fiber optics. Quote-based pricing.
- Training and Support Services: Customer training programs available online or in-person to ensure teams are equipped to handle Boxfish underwater vehicles. Also includes customer support for troubleshooting, software updates, and product optimization.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Multi-year contract | Contact sales for quotation |
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels7 records
Marketing channels8 records
Boxfish Robotics product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Boxfish Robotics designs and manufactures a portfolio of underwater robotic vehicles, including tethered remotely operated vehicles (ROVs), tetherless hovering autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs), and resident AUVs, plus the Boxfish 360 underwater VR camera. Products are sold direct from Auckland, New Zealand and through a global reseller network to marine science, environmental monitoring, cinematography, commercial diving, offshore wind, and defense customers. The company also offers custom underwater engineering solutions, customer training (online and in-person), and ongoing support services.
Product overview
Boxfish Robotics (formerly Boxfish Research) is a New Zealand-based underwater robotics company offering a comprehensive portfolio of tethered and untethered underwater vehicles. The product lineup centers on three vehicle types: hovering autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs), remotely operated vehicles (ROVs), and specialized underwater cameras. The core AUV products include the Boxfish AUV (tetherless autonomous vehicle for marine science and environmental monitoring) and ARV-i (autonomous resident vehicle for extended underwater deployments with wireless charging dock). The ROV family includes Boxfish Luna (cinema-grade 8K cinematography drone), Boxfish ROV (advanced inspection vehicle), and Boxfish Alpha (compact observation ROV for daily inspection). Supporting products include the Boxfish 360 VR camera system and Custom Underwater Solutions for specialized engineering requirements. Accessories include navigation systems (USBL, DVL), environmental sensors (CTD, pH, turbidity, fluorometer, hydrophone), and operational tools (grabbers, laser scalers, cleaning brushes). The company serves diverse markets including marine science, environmental monitoring, cinematography, commercial diving, offshore wind, and defense.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Boxfish AUV Next-generation tetherless autonomous hovering underwater vehicle built on the field-proven Boxfish ROV platform for marine science and environmental monitoring, featuring proprietary SafePath Planner autonomy software, 20MP Sony camera, stereo HD cameras for depth maps, high-CRI (>90) lighting, and operational range up to 6km from deployment point.
- ARV-i (Autonomous Resident Vehicle) Autonomous underwater resident vehicle developed in partnership with Krona Subsea, configurable for fully autonomous self-piloting or manual control, capable of months of deployment underwater with proprietary subsea docking station providing wireless battery charging and data transfer, up to 6 machine vision cameras, 4K navigation camera, and 17,000 lumens of lighting.
- Boxfish Luna Next-generation underwater cinematography drone for natural history filmmakers and research content creators, capturing up to 8K full-frame video (Sony α1) and 50MP stills from depths up to 1000 meters, with up to 15 hours runtime per charge, 200mm acrylic dome rated to 1000 meters, and precision optical glass dome option for shallower depths.
- Boxfish ROV Advanced tethered remotely operated vehicle for science and underwater operations, delivering uncompressed 4K video and 20MP RAW photos with high-resolution 4K live camera feed, deployable to 1000 meters depth, with eight 3D-vectored thrusters providing 6-DOF control.
- Boxfish Alpha Compact inspection and observation ROV rated to 300m depth, designed for daily inspection, observation tasks, and commercial diving support, easily and rapidly deployed from small vessels.
- Boxfish 360 Professional underwater 360VR camera for cinematographers, scientists, and explorers, capturing fully spherical 5K video and 12MP stills up to 300 meters deep using three large sensor cameras each recording 4K video and 16MP RAW photos.
- Custom Underwater Solutions Custom engineering services for specific underwater applications including custom underwater cameras and precision optics, custom ROVs and accessories, machine vision systems, measurement and sampling tools, custom lighting, and underwater fiber optics, priced via quote based on project requirements, budget, and timeframe.
Companies that use Boxfish Robotics
Customer profileNamed customers9 records
Segments7 records
Ideal customer profiles6 records
Boxfish Robotics technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration13 records
AI capability8 records
Feature9 records
Boxfish Robotics partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Eight partnerships are on record, tiered flagship and core.
- Inspired Planet ProductionsflagshipPartnership for the 'Hidden Below: The Great Lakes' documentary project. Boxfish developing specialized underwater robotic platform for deepwater and low-visibility conditions across the Great Lakes. Boxfish Luna ROV deployed for live expeditions including Superior Maximus (deepest point in Lake Superior) and Fish City in Lake Huron. Partnership showcases scientific and cinematic capabilities in extreme freshwater environments.
- S2 ServicescoreMalaysia-based ROV reseller specializing in offshore and subsea industry operations. Provides Boxfish ROV systems to customers in Malaysia for various applications.
- National Marine Sanctuary FoundationflagshipCollaboration using Boxfish 360 camera for virtual dive experiences bringing U.S. national marine sanctuaries to the public. Created Sanctuaries 360 series with immersive 360-degree video content for education and ocean stewardship.
- DK M-TechcoreKorean business partnership introducing Boxfish Robotics innovative ROV systems to Korean market. Enhances DK M-Tech's capacity to improve Korea's maritime safety and marine environment. Partnership announced at Korea Ocean Expo.
- Transmark SubseacoreNorwegian partner Transmark Subsea developed the ARV-i autonomous resident vehicle in a joint venture with Boxfish Research. Transmark contributes cutting-edge underwater power and communication technology. ARV-i offers operational flexibility with fully autonomous self-piloting or manual control, deployable for months underwater with proprietary subsea docking for wireless charging and data transfer. Transmark serves as European representative and reseller.
- Krona SubseacorePartnership for ARV-i resident AUV development. Krona Subsea's subsea docking technology enables wireless underwater connectors for charging and data transfer, allowing autonomous resident vehicle operations for extended periods underwater.
- Unique Group / Unique Subsea AustraliacoreAuthorized reseller partnership bringing Boxfish Research's underwater ROV to Australia and Asia-Pacific region. Unique Group has proven reputation as reliable supplier and service provider of autonomous solutions for marine, offshore and subsea industry operations. Their electronics workshop supports sales and rentals clients throughout Australia and APAC regions.
- Cosmos ShojicoreJapanese subsea equipment supplier distributing Boxfish ROVs through importation, selling and leasing. Provides technical services for oil, natural gas and geothermal development. Has built relationships with universities, government agencies, and oil & gas industry in Japan. First demonstration ROV sale completed with training provided.
Scale indicators9 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Boxfish Robotics competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Teledyne Marine: Teledyne Marine is a broad marine technology portfolio including imaging, instrumentation, and underwater vehicles. It serves overlapping marine science, oceanographic research, and offshore inspection customers with comprehensive solutions, making it a broad incumbent competitor to Boxfish's specialized offerings.
- Saab Seaeye: Saab Seaeye is a leading global manufacturer of electric underwater robotic systems, including observation- and work-class ROVs. While it operates across a broader product range and at larger scale than Boxfish, it competes in the same underwater vehicle category serving marine science, defense, and commercial inspection customers.
- Kongsberg Maritime: Kongsberg Maritime manufactures AUVs, subsea systems, and acoustic positioning products (including HUGIN AUVs and HIPAP/USBL). It overlaps with Boxfish in marine science and survey customers and represents a large-scale incumbent whose navigation and acoustic technology competes with Boxfish's USBL integration.
Emerging players
- Chasing Innovation: Chasing Innovation (Chasing / Dory) is a Chinese manufacturer of consumer and prosumer underwater drones offering low-cost ROVs with HD/4K imaging. While targeting a lower price tier than Boxfish, it increasingly intersects with commercial inspection, aquaculture, and recreational users that Boxfish also addresses.
- Blue Robotics: Blue Robotics manufactures underwater components, thrusters, and complete ROV/AUV platforms for hobbyists, researchers, and small commercial operators. It overlaps with Boxfish in marine research and low-cost underwater exploration, with some technology-stack overlap (thrusters, controllers).
- Bedrock Ocean (Bedrock Robotics): Bedrock Ocean develops autonomous underwater vehicles for high-resolution seabed mapping and offshore survey. It competes with Boxfish's AUV products in marine science, environmental monitoring, and offshore wind inspection use cases, with a focus on survey-grade autonomous data collection.
Direct peers
- VideoRay: VideoRay designs and manufactures mission-focused ROVs widely used for inspection, security, search & recovery, and marine science applications. It is one of the closest direct competitors to Boxfish in the portable/inspection ROV class, with overlapping target markets in defense, port security, and research.
- Deep Trekker: Deep Trekker builds portable, battery-powered ROVs and crawlers for inspection, aquaculture, search & recovery, and underwater survey. It targets similar customer segments as Boxfish (commercial diving, asset inspection, defense/security) with a focus on ease of deployment from small vessels.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses1 record
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Boxfish Robotics social profiles
Digital presenceBoxfish Robotics compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance1 record
Boxfish Robotics financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Boxfish Robotics leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles4 records
Boxfish Robotics funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Boxfish Robotics M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Boxfish Robotics
What does Boxfish Robotics do?
Boxfish Robotics designs and manufactures a portfolio of underwater robotic vehicles, including tethered remotely operated vehicles (ROVs), tetherless hovering autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs), and resident AUVs, plus the Boxfish 360 underwater VR camera. Products are sold direct from Auckland, New Zealand and through a global reseller network to marine science, environmental monitoring, cinematography, commercial diving, offshore wind, and defense customers. The company also offers custom underwater engineering solutions, customer training (online and in-person), and ongoing support services.
Is Boxfish Robotics a public or private company?
Boxfish Robotics is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Boxfish Robotics founded?
Boxfish Robotics was founded in 2016.
Where is Boxfish Robotics based?
Boxfish Robotics is headquartered in Auckland, New Zealand, in the Oceania region.
How does Boxfish Robotics make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Underwater Vehicle Sales are the primary driver. The others are accessories and Add-ons, custom Underwater Solutions and training and Support Services.
Who are Boxfish Robotics's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Teledyne Marine, Saab Seaeye and Kongsberg Maritime. Emerging players are Chasing Innovation, Blue Robotics and Bedrock Ocean (Bedrock Robotics). Direct peers are VideoRay and Deep Trekker.
Does Boxfish Robotics have an API?
No public API is recorded for Boxfish Robotics.
What industry is Boxfish Robotics in?
Boxfish Robotics's product category is Underwater Robotics. Its primary akta.pro industry code is HDAAAIAH, Marine & Underwater Robotics (USVs/UUVs), with a secondary code of IMAJAOAC, Unmanned Underwater Vehicle (UUV) & Autonomous Submersible Manufacturing. Its NAICS code is 334511.