🏆 Elite Tier (Deep-Sea & Industrial Heavyweights)
- Saab Seaeye (Sweden)
- Flagship Tech: Electric ROVs with intelligent control systems, modular payloads (e.g., lasers, sonars).
- Depth: Up to 6,000m (Sabertooth).
- Best For: Offshore oil/gas, defense, pipeline inspection.
- Key Models: Sabertooth (hybrid AUV/ROV), Falcon.
- Schilling Robotics (US | TechnipFMC)
- Flagship Tech: Ultra-heavy-duty manipulator arms, 250hp+ thrusters, real-time HD telemetry.
- Depth: 4,000m (HD work-class ROVs).
- Best For: Subsea construction, well intervention, deep-sea mining.
- Key Models: UHD III, RIGSERV.
- Ocean Infinity (UK/US)
- Flagship Tech: Swarm robotics (Armada fleet), AI-powered seabed mapping, zero-emission AUVs.
- Depth: 6,000m (AUVs).
- Best For: Offshore survey, search & recovery (e.g., MH370), environmental monitoring.
🔬 Scientific & Research Leaders
- Kongsberg Maritime (Norway)
- Flagship Tech: HUGIN AUVs (military-grade sonar), integrated navigation, photogrammetry.
- Depth: 6,000m (HUGIN Superior).
- Best For: Oceanography, naval defense, offshore wind farms.
- Key Models: HUGIN, MUNIN.
- Teledyne Marine (US)
- Flagship Tech: Gavia AUVs (modular "science pods"), SeaRaptor ROVs, multi-beam imaging.
- Depth: 5,000m (Gavia).
- Best For: Marine biology, hydrographic surveys, mine countermeasures.
- WHOI (Woods Hole Oceanographic) (US)
- Flagship Tech: Nereus hybrid vehicle (retired), autonomous deep-sea sampling.
- Depth: 11,000m (Orpheus AUVs).
- Best For: Hadal zone exploration, NSF/NASA collaborations.
⚡ Commercial & Defense Specialists
- ECA Group (France)
- Flagship Tech: A18D AUV (mine hunting), ROVs for nuclear inspections.
- Depth: 3,000m.
- Best For: Naval defense, underwater drones (UXV).
- Deep Ocean Engineering (US)
- Flagship Tech: Compact inspection-class ROVs, dual manipulators.
- Depth: 1,000m (Phantom series).
- Best For: Port security, aquaculture, film production (e.g., Titanic dives).
🚀 Emerging Innovators
- OpenROV (US)
- Flagship Tech: Low-cost open-source ROVs (Trident), citizen science focus.
- Depth: 100m.
- Best For: Education, shallow-water exploration.
- QYSEA Technology (Hong Kong)
- Flagship Tech: FIFISH PRO V6 (consumer/pro-sumer ROVs), 4K stabilization, AI object tracking.
- Depth: 300m.
- Best For: Underwater cinematography, aquaculture, hull inspection.
