Opean Ocean Robotics

OPEN OCEAN ROBOTICS

FROM ROWBOATS TO ROBOTS

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OPEN OCEAN ROBOTICS

I PROFILE

Open Ocean Robotics offers safe, affordable, and sustainable ways to collect and manage oceanographic and maritime data. The company’s innovative autonomous robotic data collection platform and cloud-based software system provides real time data acquisition with AI driven analytics. Hannah Barnett spoke to co-founder & CEO Julie Angus and Director of Sales Andy Ziegwied to discuss what makes the company so special.

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Julie Angus, CEO and Co-Founder credit: Jeffrey Bosdet

O

pen Ocean Robotics has an

the gap in the market for, (and commercial

origin story that is more thrilling

viability of) their uncrewed surface vehicle

than most.

(USV). In 2018, Open Ocean Robotics was

The idea came when co-founder and CEO

launched; and now the company’s solar-

Julie Angus rowed across the Atlantic Ocean

powered vehicles provide safe, affordable,

with her fiancé, now husband, Colin (Angus,

and sustainable ocean monitoring solutions

co-founder).

to digitize and sustainably grow the $2.5

The five-month rowing journey made Julie the first woman to row across the Atlantic from mainland to mainland.

trillion blue economy.

“Our mission is to advance disruptive technologies to benefit ocean health,”

“It really made me understand the chal-

Ms. Angus explained. “Our USVs allow

lenges of being out on the open ocean and

ocean surveying, monitoring, and data

how that impacts our ability to understand

collection to remove humans from

and protect it,” said Ms. Angus. “It was clear

operating in dangerous environments.

that we needed better ways of collecting

Instead, we can instead use uncrewed

ocean data and that’s how the idea for

vehicles to collect the same – or even

Open Ocean Robotics started.”

better – data more quickly, or over

Several years later, with a prototype cre-

longer sustained deployments than is

ated in the Angus’ garage, the pair realized

currently feasible with crewed vessels.”

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OPEN OCEAN ROBOTICS

I PROFILE

2023 was Open Ocean Robotics’ biggest year of growth so far. The company expanded its team to 29 people and moved into a new 13,000 square foot facility in Victoria, Canada, which offers the capacity to build six USVs a month. The company has also taken on several large-scale projects, including with the US Navy in Bahrain: and revenue, which has dou-

technology can be used in various

bled for the last several years, is looking

oceanographic and environmental appli-

likely to triple in 2024.

cations in a diverse range of markets.

The XplorerView™ cloud-based data

A pioneering vessel

management and control system pairs up

The DataXplorer™ is Open Ocean Robotics’

alongside the DataXplorer to serve as the

flagship USV.

operational hub for the vessel. It provides

“The vessel uses solar power, so it’s

a comprehensive interface for operators

emission free,” said Ms. Angus, “and it has

to be able to see and control the data and

innovative, patented technologies like being

is an extremely secure platform.

self-righting, which means it can be used

The software provides real time

in even the worst storms. Its shallow draft

monitoring of the vessel’s health to antici-

allows it to be used in coastal waters as well

pate any issues. It also has autonomous

as offshore. The vessel has high precision

functionality, meaning operators can

control, can be operated from anywhere

preprogram the mission but still make

in the world, and recharges at sea.”

adjustments if necessary.

The modular system of the DataXplorer

“For example, we have a USV on the water

makes it highly versatile. It comes with

right now,” said Ms. Angus. “And we’re

a core suite of sensors, but can be easily

watching the 360-degree camera streams

integrated with others, meaning the

come in. There is also a thermal camera.

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In some cases, we have an underwater

WildAid, recent winners of the prestigious

camera, and if we’re listening for marine

Earthshot Prize.

mammals, we can have passive acoustic

“We’ve been working with WildAid for four

monitoring to provide the operator with

years now,” Ms. Angus explained. “We're

complete situational awareness.”

supporting MPAs and providing monitoring

XplorerView utilizes optimized commu-

that will allow them to be understood and

nications via radio, cellular, and satellite,

protected. Being able to closely monitor an

ensuring that the USV remains in touch

MPA is key to preventing illegal fishing.

at all times. “It means the USV is

Protecting oceans is very important to

constantly trackable,” said Andy Ziegwied,

us and that’s a partnership that we’re

Director of Sales, “and there are also backup

really proud of.”

trackers installed for an emergency

The DataXplorer can be deployed from

situation, with self-powered location

a boat launch ramp or from a ship. The

transmitting beacons, so we’ll always

core vessel is relatively light and can be

know where it is.”

carried by two people. Because it is solar powered, energy can be stored in a bat-

A vast potential

tery bank, to be used as needed. Though

The DataXplorer’s prospective applications

it is relatively slow moving, it can have

stretch across many sectors including the

bursts of speed up to six knots. These

monitoring of marine protected areas (MPAs)

factors contribute to making the

to prevent illegal fishing. The company

DataXplorer a truly diverse vessel, useful

is working alongside global nonprofit

in many different environments.

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OPEN OCEAN ROBOTICS

I PROFILE

“I think that’s what is so exciting,” said

DataXplorer™ is uniquely capable of operating in shallow waters or challenging offshore seas. Its patented self-righting system allows quick recovery from repeated capsizes to survive extreme weather conditions, from storms to surf breaks.

the company now intends to expand its

Mr. Ziegwied. “The sheer flexibility of the

fleet presence to the east coast.

vehicle and the different payloads that

Product availability is also growing,

we can incorporate. One of things that

including new sensor configurations:

sets us apart is the ease of use, affordability,

that means a customer will be able to

and reliability in difficult conditions, as

deploy multiple USVs and synchronize

well as being zero emissions. And it is very

data acquisition.

controllable, we can go from near shore to

The company also offers turnkey USV

offshore because it is so robust, putting

mission services on a contractor – owned

us in a very small group of vehicles that

model, having done so since 2020. “This

can manage that.”

allows customers to obtain the required ocean analytics without the need to own

Powering ahead

or operate a USV,” Ms. Angus explained.

As the company enters a growth stage,

“There is no capital expenditure. We pro-

having launched sales of DataXplorer in

vide everything from mission planning,

addition to services in 2023, it is expanding

the USV, operations, data analysis, and

its operational team. Open Ocean Robotics

custom sensor integration.”

primarily serves North America, and as

Like many innovative companies

a British Columbia based organization,

seeking to create substantial change,

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Team member prepping sensor suite for action in Tofino

Open Ocean Robotics is only as strong as its people.

“We are driven by a collective vision, fueled by the unwavering passion of our dedicated team,” Mr. Ziegwied reflected.

“Our strengths are diverse, ranging from highly specialized software experts to skilled electrical and mechanical engineers, all the way to our dynamic, forwardfacing Ocean Services team.”

Ms. Angus agreed that the skills of the staff are what powers Open Ocean Robotics' greater purpose: “We have an amazing team that is talented, passionate, and committed. People pursue careers in this industry because they care about conserving the ocean and are driven by technological innovation.”

“When we deploy hundreds or thousands of these USVs that collect data with no greenhouse gas emissions, it will be transformative for our industry, our oceans, and the overall health of our planet.”

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