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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