Nauticus Robotics

Nauticus Robotics develops autonomous subsea robots, ocean autonomy software and robotic services for energy, defense, aquaculture and offshore infrastructure. Its systems are designed for inspection, maintenance, repair and seabed work that would otherwise require divers or crewed vessels.

Market context

Nauticus is relevant because it targets offshore work where autonomy can reduce vessel dependency, human exposure, and operating cost. Its recent archaeological survey contract adds a live commercial ocean-data use case along the U. S. East Coast.

Facts

Website: https://nauticusrobotics.com/
HQ: Houston, United States
Founded: 2014
Ticker: KITT / NASDAQ
Segment: maritime robotics
Known funding rounds: 1

Funding

2026-02-09 - Strategic investment - Nauticus Robotics announces strategic investment and UAE offshore robotics hub plan with Master Investment Group - source: ir.nauticusrobotics.com

Commercial

7 commercial events; 7 contract awards; latest event 2026-04-23

2026-04-23 - Contract award - Nauticus Robotics awarded offshore archaeological investigation project along U.S. East Coast - source: ir.nauticusrobotics.com
2023-09-14 - Contract award - Nauticus Robotics signs offshore service agreement with Shell for Gulf of Mexico subsea inspection - source: ir.nauticusrobotics.com
2023-08-22 - Contract award - Nauticus Robotics and Leidos execute additional $2.1 million contract for Aquanaut-derived undersea robot - source: ir.nauticusrobotics.com
2023-06-23 - Contract award - Petrobras contracts Nauticus Robotics to develop and test autonomous subsea inspection services - source: ir.nauticusrobotics.com
2023-05-11 - Contract award - Nauticus Robotics and Leidos execute $2.7 million contract extension for Aquanaut-derived undersea robot - source: ir.nauticusrobotics.com
2022-10-05 - Contract award - Nauticus Robotics awarded second multi-million dollar DIU contract for amphibious unmanned system - source: ir.nauticusrobotics.com
2022-02-15 - Contract award - Nauticus Robotics awarded DIU prototype OT for autonomous amphibious robot development - source: ir.nauticusrobotics.com

Autonomous subsea robotics company

Nauticus Robotics develops electric underwater robots, manipulators and autonomy software for subsea inspection, intervention and ocean services.

Target environment: Offshore energy sites, subsea infrastructure, aquaculture, maritime security, underwater inspection routes and ocean operations.
Deployment model: Underwater robot systems and services using Aquanaut, Olympic Arm, ToolKITT software and subsea operational support.
Customer context: Offshore energy operators, maritime service companies, aquaculture users, security customers and subsea inspection teams.
Workflow context: Underwater inspection, manipulation, data capture, subsea intervention, remote operation and autonomous ocean work.
Commercial maturity: Public subsea robotics company with productized underwater systems and service-oriented deployment model.
Market position: Marine robotics company focused on electric subsea autonomy and manipulation.
Adoption constraints: Adoption depends on offshore reliability, customer contracts, underwater communications, mission safety, capital availability and service execution.
Adjacent context: Adjacent context includes subsea robots, underwater manipulators, ROV alternatives, autonomous ocean work and offshore inspection.
Source confidence: high

Events

2026-04-23 - Contract Award - Nauticus Robotics awarded offshore archaeological investigation project along U.S. East Coast - Nauticus Robotics was awarded a contract to conduct a subsea archaeological investigation along the U.S. East Coast. The work supports an unnamed offshore wind-sector client and includes detailed seafloor survey to identify and document potential cultural and…
2026-02-19 - Production Milestone - Nauticus Robotics announces Aquanaut manufacturing expansion and leadership additions - Nauticus Robotics announced leadership additions and commercialization initiatives tied to product growth and manufacturing capacity. The update followed Master Investment Group's commitment to support construction of additional Aquanaut vehicles. Nauticus ap…
2026-02-09 - Partnership - Nauticus Robotics announces strategic investment and UAE offshore robotics hub plan with Master Investment Group - Nauticus Robotics announced a proposed strategic collaboration with Master Investment Group to establish a UAE-based manufacturing, sales, and offshore services business unit. The plan includes local facility development, workforce localization, and initial m…
2025-10-23 - Partnership - Nauticus Robotics plans Aquanaut testing program at Advanced Ocean Systems lake facility - Nauticus Robotics announced plans to use Advanced Ocean Systems' lake facility in Stuart, Florida for Aquanaut testing. The program covers leak detection, 3D digital twin solutions, survey and mapping expansion, autonomy software commercialization, and fleet…
2025-09-23 - Capability - Nauticus Robotics and Subnero validate ultra-deepwater communications for Aquanaut - Nauticus Robotics announced ultra-deepwater Aquanaut test results with Subnero. The test confirmed the subsea acoustic link was maintained as Aquanaut submerged from the surface to 2,300 meters. Nauticus said the 2,300-meter limit is deep enough to cover an e…
2025-08-26 - Capability - Nauticus Robotics Aquanaut Mark 2 reaches 2,300 meters in ultra-deepwater qualification testing - Nauticus Robotics said Aquanaut Mark 2 reached a new depth record of 2,300 meters underwater. The test took place 240 kilometers off the coast of Louisiana. Nauticus said the test generated data on Aquanaut and ToolKITT performance, including acoustic communi…
2025-02-03 - Production Milestone - Nauticus Robotics moves second Aquanaut Mark 2 vehicle into acceptance testing - Nauticus Robotics completed assembly and the first phase of acceptance testing for its second Aquanaut Mark 2 vehicle. The vehicle moved to Louisiana for the next phase of acceptance testing. Nauticus targeted completion of all acceptance testing in the first…
2024-11-05 - Deployment - Nauticus Robotics completes initial 2024 Gulf of Mexico survey scope for Shell - Nauticus Robotics completed its initial 2024 Gulf of Mexico survey scope for Shell Exploration and Production Inc. The company said the work was completed safely, within budget, and with the scope expanded during execution. Nauticus said the completion positi…
2024-07-18 - Capability - Nauticus Robotics completes Phase I concept validation documentation for Aquanaut Mark 2 - Nauticus Robotics finalized engineering and proof-of-concept documentation for Aquanaut Mark 2. The documentation covered 10 core functionalities for offshore deepwater field inspection and light maintenance tasks. Nauticus said completion of Phase I supporte…
2023-09-14 - Contract Award - Nauticus Robotics signs offshore service agreement with Shell for Gulf of Mexico subsea inspection - Nauticus Robotics announced an offshore service agreement with Shell Exploration and Production Inc. The initial scope covered inspection services on a Shell subsea field development in the Gulf of Mexico. Nauticus said the agreement followed qualification of…
2023-08-22 - Contract Award - Nauticus Robotics and Leidos execute additional $2.1 million contract for Aquanaut-derived undersea robot - Nauticus Robotics and Leidos executed an additional USD 2.1 million contract. The work further develops an Aquanaut-derived undersea robot for longer and more challenging missions. The award also supports operational enhancements to Nauticus' ToolKITT softwar…
2023-06-23 - Contract Award - Petrobras contracts Nauticus Robotics to develop and test autonomous subsea inspection services - Petrobras awarded Nauticus Robotics a contract to develop and test supervised autonomous subsea inspection services. The contract uses Aquanaut in Petrobras' deepwater production field. Nauticus said the scope consists of approximately two months of subsea in…
2023-05-11 - Contract Award - Nauticus Robotics and Leidos execute $2.7 million contract extension for Aquanaut-derived undersea robot - Nauticus Robotics and Leidos executed a USD 2.7 million contract extension. The funded extension supports continued development of an Aquanaut-derived undersea robot. The work prepares the system for customer adoption decisions and government opportunities.
2022-10-05 - Contract Award - Nauticus Robotics awarded second multi-million dollar DIU contract for amphibious unmanned system - Nauticus Robotics was awarded a second multi-million dollar contract by the U.S. Defense Innovation Unit. The contract covers development of an amphibious unmanned system using Nauticus' autonomous command-and-control software platform, ToolKITT. The system s…
2022-02-15 - Contract Award - Nauticus Robotics awarded DIU prototype OT for autonomous amphibious robot development - Nauticus Robotics announced a competitively awarded prototype Other Transaction agreement with the U.S. Defense Innovation Unit. The work focused on autonomous amphibious robotic capabilities for defense applications. The agreement included potential for a fo…

Team

John W. Gibson, Jr. - President and Chief Executive Officer - Leads Nauticus during its push to commercialize subsea autonomy, expand ToolKITT deployment and build international operating presence.

Context tags

Maritime robotics companies - Peer Group
Autonomous underwater vehicle builder - Peer Group

Customers and deployments

Commercial Rollout - offshore archaeological investigation contract - 2026-04-23 - Offshore wind-sector client - U.S. East Coast - Nauticus Robotics was awarded an offshore wind-sector contract to conduct a subsea archa…
Aquanaut Build Capacity Expansion - additional Aquanaut build capacity - 2026-02-19 - Aquanaut manufacturing expansion - underwater robot manufacturing - Nauticus Robotics announced manufacturing and commercialization m…
Production Status - second Aquanaut Mark 2 vehicle in acceptance testing - 2025-02-03 - Nauticus Robotics - United States - Nauticus completed assembly and first-phase acceptance testing for its second Aquanaut Mark 2 v…
Completed Field Mission - initial 2024 Gulf of Mexico survey scope completed - 2024-11-05 - Shell - subsea survey operations - Nauticus Robotics completed the initial 2024 Gulf of Mexico survey scope for Shell using sub…

Nauticus Robotics canonical Korthos profile