03/30/2026
In school, there was one class that I failed dismally at - computer science. So, in light of that, I feel my latest project could be my personal Sistine Chapel of achievements. Super stoked to announce our new AI powered marine mammal monitoring and detection system which we launched on Friday.
You can check out the real time dashboard at https://sailbotix.com/demo-buoy-dashboard/. It’s stationed off Oak Bay, Canada.
Basically, we’ve stuck the entire operating platform of our USV into a moored buoy. We even use the same hull structure (just removed the thruster and navigation system). So what can it do? Here’s the list:
1) Wave height and period
2) Thermal camera
3) Four full-surround visible light cameras
4) One underwater camera
5) AI-powered marine mammal hydrophone detection system
6) Met Ocean Data (wind speed, direction, pressure, water , temp etc.
But the fat sensor suite isn’t what really makes this buoy powerful, it’s the electrical and software systems platform. Runninng all sensors (cameras, hydrophone, etc) and transmitting to shore via LTE uses a paltry 7.4 Watts. Low power mode (all sensors but cameras and hydrophone) uses 0.7 watts! In low power mode, it switches to Iridium Certus and provides updates at a chosen frequency. Low power consumption and power scalability is achieved by using a dual processor system and sophisticated power management controls.
The buoy has three communications channels – Iridium Certus (low power) and remote, LTE mid power and optimal, and Starlink (works everywhere and provides girthy bandwidth). Starlink use adds an additional 30 watts to the load, however, can be turned on and off for bulk data transfer at intervals. The cameras can be configured in countless different ways between sending still images and video. They are currently set to send images every ten seconds.
A 100 watt solar panel provides ample power in spring/summer/fall conditions, and it can be fitted with a150 watt panel for winter. For winter use, there are many options for tiered power management, and onboard AI analytics to get the full picture.
What you see running in this buoy is what also runs in our USVs – a modular, and exceptionally versatile electrical system that sips power sparingly. We are storing all the images collected from our buoy to fine tune our AI models
Our next stage of development for both our buoys and USVs is to further develop our AI analytics to increase onboard intelligence, so human operators are only bothered when events of interest occur. That’s what you call low cost, low effort ocean moniotorig.
