Solar-Powered USV for Persistent Deep Water Sensing Launched

Sofar Ocean has expanded its sensing capabilities with the launch of Spotter Scout, a rugged, solar-powered uncrewed surface vehicle designed for persistent monitoring in remote and deep water environments.

Traditional ocean monitoring relies on expensive and complex mooring systems that are difficult to relocate and often cost more than the sensors they support. Spotter Scout removes these constraints by holding position in deep water without moorings, transiting between locations on command, and operating unattended for six months or longer. The USV system transmits surface and subsurface data to a central dashboard and API in real time, allowing for immediate access to environmental observations.

The vehicle is engineered for long-term performance in extreme conditions, featuring a flooded hull with no sealed air volume to prevent breaches during sea states 7 and 8. Power is provided by a 340w solar array paired with a keel-mounted 2kWh battery, which also serves as the ballast needed to self-right in harsh weather. Connectivity options include cellular, Iridium, and Starlink, allowing operators to reposition units via a simple browser-based command sent from desktop or mobile devices.

“Spotter Scout is an exciting step in the evolution of the Spotter Platform, while extending the same scalability philosophy,” said Tim Janssen, co-founder and CEO of Sofar. “Effectively it delivers a Spotter with position control at your fingertips. This extends our ability to build networks that support new missions and water depths where mooring or drifting is not effective.”

Developed by UK-based marine robotics company Online Oceans, the USV is priced to support network-scale deployments rather than single-asset projects. This strategic pricing model allows organizations to manage dozens of units from a single interface, shifting focus toward designing comprehensive sensor networks that cover entire geographic areas.

“We’re excited to be partnering with Sofar to combine our respective technologies into a powerful new ocean monitoring capability,” said George Morton, Co-founder & CEO of Online Oceans. “By integrating Sofar’s proven sensing and data infrastructure with Online Oceans’ long-endurance autonomous surface platform, Scout, we can enable persistent, scalable access to ocean data in places that have traditionally been difficult or expensive to reach. It’s a great example of how complementary technologies can unlock new ways to observe and understand the ocean.”