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Product profile

Saildrone Explorer

Explorer is Saildrone smaller long-endurance uncrewed surface vehicle for ocean observation. It is used for fisheries research, metocean data collection, e...

Facts

Company
Saildrone
Product type
uncrewed_surface_vehicle
Status
commercial
Primary capability
generalist
Website
https://www.saildrone.com/platform/explorer

About Saildrone Explorer

Saildrone Explorer is a seven-metre wind- and solar-powered uncrewed surface vehicle built for persistent environmental observation. Its rigid wing provides propulsion, while solar generation powers meteorological, oceanographic and communications equipment during missions extending across remote and extreme waters.

Sensor configurations measure wind, waves, temperature, salinity, carbon, fish abundance and ecosystem conditions. Explorer vehicles have completed ocean crossings, hurricane missions and fisheries surveys and can remain deployed for months with shore-based supervision. Collected data are transmitted by satellite for scientific, commercial and government users.

Market context

uncrewed_surface_vehicle, 4a4da99e3236198794011bb16861c26bbbeddeceb6dfcfe4fa0d3bb68757b1b7, 2026-05-22, ocean_monitoring, https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/653530fc2845a4410ac6dd36/69445bd3e02fca594e404be6_explorer.avif, long_endurance_usv, https://www.saildrone.com/platform/explorer, products/qa-fixes-2026-05-22/saildrone-explorer-4a4da99e32.png, official_photo_crop

Summary

Type: USV

Core: Ocean monitoring

Function: Track conditions

Audience: Marine operators

Specifications

autonomy_model
Autonomous waypoint navigation with obstacle avoidance
communication
Iridium satellite
deployment_maturity
Commercially deployed across multiple ocean basins
endurance_months
Up to 12 months at sea months
form_type
Sail-driven ocean drone
length
7 m
operational_environment
Open ocean, global
operational_role
Ocean data collection, environmental monitoring, maritime domain awareness
power
Solar-powered electronics and instruments
propulsion
Wind-powered wing sail with solar-electric backup
sensors_summary
AIS transceiver, smart camera array, environmental sensors (wave height and period, barometric pressure, ocean currents, seafloor depth, chlorophyll)
status
Commercially deployed
workflow_focus
Oceanographic survey, environmental monitoring, maritime surveillance

Operations

Environment
open_ocean, coastal_waters, hazardous_maritime_environment
Primary user
ocean_science_teams, government_agencies, maritime_domain_awareness_teams
Role
uncrewed_surface_vehicle, ocean_data_collection, maritime_surveillance
Interaction model
remote_mission_planning, autonomous_waypoint_navigation, persistent_data_collection
Mobility class
wind_powered_usv, solar_assisted_usv
Product detail
uncrewed_surface_vehicle, 4a4da99e3236198794011bb16861c26bbbeddeceb6dfcfe4fa0d3bb68757b1b7, 2026-05-22, ocean_monitoring, https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/653530fc2845a4410ac6dd36/69445bd3e02fca594e404be6_explorer.avif, long_endurance_usv, https://www.saildrone.com/platform/explorer, products/qa-fixes-2026-05-22/saildrone-explorer-4a4da99e32.png, official_photo_crop

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