Saildrone Surveyor maps 4,500 km of seabed, marking a major shift in ocean survey capabilities
In a landmark achievement for maritime technology, Saildrone and Meta have successfully completed a first-of-its-kind deep-water cable route survey using an uncrewed surface vehicle (USV). The 26-day mission took place in the North Atlantic during June and July 2024, using the 20-meter Saildrone Surveyor.
This milestone proves that uncrewed systems can match traditional crewed survey vessels in data quality and performance—while greatly reducing environmental impact and operational risk.
Mapping the Seafloor with Autonomy
The Saildrone Surveyor mapped over 4,500 kilometers of seabed without requiring a port call or external support. It operated in both sail and motor-sail modes and was equipped with a Kongsberg EM304 MKII multibeam sonar system. The vehicle achieved swath coverage of up to 10 kilometers in water depths as deep as 5,500 meters.
The mission focused on mapping bathymetric data along two subsea cable routes—Anjana and Aurora. This allowed direct comparison between the Surveyor’s performance and that of conventional survey ships. According to the project team, the Surveyor exceeded expectations in key performance areas, including route fidelity, line keeping, data transmission, and depth accuracy.
“This mission demonstrated that autonomous ocean mapping is not just possible—it’s here, and it’s incredibly effective,” said Andy Palmer-Felgate, subsea cable engineer at Meta. “Saildrone delivered data that matched legacy surveys with exceptional accuracy, all while operating remotely and with minimal environmental impact.”
New Standards in Remote Operations
The team used the Saildrone Mission Portal and real-time satellite communications to track the USV’s performance. Operators could re-task the vehicle mid-mission to investigate seafloor features such as canyons and seamounts. This flexible approach was previously only possible with crewed vessels and opens new possibilities for responsive survey missions.
In addition to improving performance, the mission significantly reduced Health, Safety, and Environmental (HSE) risks. Surveyors and engineers could work remotely from home or office, reducing the need for long deployments and time away from families.
The mission also avoided an estimated 243 tons of CO₂ emissions—more than 50 times less than emissions from a standard crewed survey vessel.
Looking Ahead: A Shift in Ocean Survey Strategy
“This is a turning point for deep-ocean survey,” said Brian Connon, VP Ocean Mapping at Saildrone. “The Surveyor’s performance on this mission proves that we can deliver high-resolution, deep-water bathymetry with a fraction of the fuel, cost, and risk.”
Saildrone plans to expand its fleet of Surveyor USVs to support a wide range of industries. These include subsea telecom, offshore energy, and national hydrography programs. Future improvements will focus on longer mission range, weather resilience, and integration of technologies like AI navigation and expendable bathythermographs.
About Saildrone
Saildrone is a U.S.-based defense company that provides maritime intelligence and uncrewed ocean survey solutions. Its USVs are equipped with advanced sensors and proprietary AI to deliver real-time insights above and below the sea surface. With over 2 million nautical miles sailed, Saildrone systems are used by governments and commercial clients around the world for border security, hydrography, undersea infrastructure protection, and more.
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Miriam McNabb is the Editor-in-Chief of DRONELIFE and CEO of JobForDrones, a professional drone services marketplace, and a fascinated observer of the emerging drone industry and the regulatory environment for drones. Miriam has penned over 3,000 articles focused on the commercial drone space and is an international speaker and recognized figure in the industry. Miriam has a degree from the University of Chicago and over 20 years of experience in high tech sales and marketing for new technologies.
For drone industry consulting or writing, Email Miriam.
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