Image/s credit: Blueye Robotics.

Blueye Underwater Drones: Your Eyes and Hands Under the Surface

company logo for Blueye Robotics Blueye Robotics

Country: Norway

Year: 2017

Summary

From NTNU labs to ocean floors, the ROVs by Blueye Robotics are unlocking the ocean’s mysteries with impressive depth capabilities, versatile accessories, and more.

Status: Commercially available

Operation: Teleoperation, Tethered

Robot Type / Domain: Industrial, Consumer, Other Infrastructure

Tasks: Underwater Exploration, Inspection, Mapping, Manipulation, and More

Whimsical Intro (by addoobot)

What if a fish had the heart of a machine – graceful, quick, and indomitable beneath the waves? The Blueye drones don't just echo the streamlined elegance of aquatic creatures; they enhance them, granting you a glimpse into the ocean’s mysteries like never before. The lightweight and advanced design enables them to navigate places we’ve only imagined. Continue reading to learn more!

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Blueye X3 using Sonar
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Blueye Drones Exploring WW2 Aircraft Wrecks

Learn More

Exploring New Depths with Blueye ROVs

The ocean covers nearly 70% of our planet, but here’s a fun fact—95% of it remains unexplored. That’s where Blueye Robotics comes in, aiming to make underwater exploration easier and more accessible for everyone. Their remotely operated vehicles (ROVs) let you dive deep—up to 300 meters with a tether! These drones can explore areas far beyond the reach of most underwater vehicles.

Whether you're a hobbyist, a marine researcher, or in the industrial sector, these drones, weighing in at only 9kg, are remarkably lightweight for their capabilities and are suited for a wide range of applications.

Sleek and Smooth: The Hydrodynamic Design of Blueye Drones

A very interesting aspect of Blueye drones is their sleek, streamlined design. Unlike the bulky, box-like structures of most underwater ROVs, these drones are hydrodynamic and built to glide through the water effortlessly.

Much like how human eyes are positioned, their camera sits at the top, while the heavier components are concentrated at the bottom. This thoughtful design, paired with four strategically placed thrusters, allows the drones to stay stable without needing constant pitch or roll adjustments. Plus, the side fins reduce wobbling, so the drones glide smoothly and efficiently through the water.

Unmatched Versatility, All Controlled via an Intuitive App

Blueye drones are built to handle just about anything, thanks to their impressive range of accessories. With up to three guest ports and eight communication protocols, you can easily add tools like sensors and sonars for navigating and mapping underwater surfaces, or grippers and manipulators to retrieve lost objects and collect samples. This versatility makes them suitable for a variety of underwater missions, from scientific research to industrial inspections.

Controlling the drones is also very straightforward with Blueye’s apps and handheld controllers, which are compatible with both iOS and  Android devices. The app provides a user-friendly interface to interact with the drone, adjust the settings, and monitor real-time data. All communications are done via a tether, which ensures fast input and response time and a crystal-clear view of the underwater world.

Long-lasting Power, Brilliant Lighting and Swift Performance

Blueye’s drones provide up to 5 hours of battery life to support extended underwater explorations. All models come with an LED light that can output 3300 lumens, ensuring clear visibility even in murky or deep waters. Each drone is fitted with a high-quality camera to assist with navigation and capturing stunning underwater visuals. Plus, powered by 4 thrusters and capable of a max speed of 1.5 m/s, these drones have the agility and reliability to move comfortably in various underwater environments.

Types of ROVs from Blueye Robotics

  • Blueye X3: Featuring 3 guest ports for additional accessories, 256GB onboard storage, a 300m depth rating, and a mechanical tilt camera, this ROV can support most underwater applications.
  • Blueye X1: Equipped with 1 guest port, 256GB onboard storage, a 300m depth rating, and a mechanical tilt camera. Perfect for anything from underwater interactions to photography and exploration.
  • Blueye Pioneer: The Pioneer comes with no guest ports but has  64GB onboard storage and is great for casual exploration below the surface of the water, as well as amazing underwater videos and photography.

DO NOT COPY

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Brief History

Blueye Robotics, a spin-off from the Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU), was founded in Norway by Erik Dyrkoren, Martin Ludvigsen, Christine Spiten and Erik Haugane in 2015. The founders believed that a greater knowledge of what's happening underwater could significantly impact marine and human life. Thus, they focused on creating technologies that make underwater exploration more accessible.

Their first product, the Blueye Pioneer underwater drone, ventured on its first dive in 2017, and the company hasn’t looked back since. They’ve since expanded their products to include high-end drones like the Blueye X1 and Blueye X3, many accessories to pair with their drones, and mobile and desktop applications to enhance the experience.

Top 5+ Qualities (by addoobot)

What we find to be the top qualities of the underwater drones by Blueye Robotics:

  • Depth and Reach: Capable of reaching depths of up to 300 meters, these ROVs allow for exploration in areas far beyond the reach of most conventional underwater vehicles.
  • Lightweight, Hydrodynamic, and High-Endurance Design: Weighing less than 9 kg, Blueye drones are easy to transport and deploy, and once deployed, they last long underwater and are efficient.
  • Versatility: With support for multiple accessories like sonars, sensors, grippers, and manipulators, Blueye ROVs are designed to handle various underwater tasks.
  • User-Friendly Control: The intuitive app, compatible with both iOS and Android devices, provides easy control and real-time monitoring.
  • High-Quality Camera: The mechanical tilt camera captures stunning underwater visuals, making it ideal for both professional documentation and casual exploration.

Fun Corner (by addoobot)

When you’re sent to collect data… and finally take a look at what you missed.
A meme about an underwater robot taking a selfie instead of collecting data and realizes later it was photobombed by a shark.

Technical Specifications (best specs out of all products)

Size: 485L  257W  354H (mm)

Size: 19.094L  10.118W  13.937H (in)

Max. Payload: N/A

Max. Depth: 1000.656 ft

Max. Depth: 305 m

Max. Speed: 1.5 m/s

Max. Speed: 4.921 ft/s

Battery Operated? Tether & battery

Average Runtime: 5 hr(s)

Max. Runtime: N/A

Battery Recharge Time: N/A

Min. Weight in Air: 8.6 kg

Min. Weight in Air: 18.960 lbs

Manipulation: arm, gripper / hand

IP Rating: N/A

Operating Temperature: -10 ℃ to 50 ℃

Operating Temperature: 14.000 ℉ to 122.000 ℉

Open-source? N/A

Price: N/A

Sensors: IMU sensor, Depth Sensor, Camera, and more. Also support for external sensors

Controller & Computing: iOS and Android compatible

Material: ABS, Aluminium, Polycarbonate

Thrusters: 4

Tether: Up to 300m

Data Storage: 64 GB or 256 GB (depending on the model)

No more specs to show.

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Comment by addoobot - Our Perspective

We truly believe what makes Blueye underwater drones special is their perfect balance of versatility, reliability, and ease of use. What we find particularly interesting is the streamlined design as well as the accessories that enhance the experience even more. Whether we’re diving in for work or just exploring for fun, these ROVs offer incredible value and make underwater exploration accessible and enjoyable.

addoorable score:
8.90/10
It’s tough to design a highly functional underwater drone that also looks sleek, but we think Blueye has nailed it with their ROVs, especially the X3. The design is both practical and aesthetically pleasing. Do you agree? Comment below!

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