Jaia Robotics, Inc., a leader in low-cost, micro-sized autonomous marine vehicles, is delighted to announce that they have partnered with Marine Acoustics, Inc. (MAI) to add a passive acoustic capability onto their JaiaBot^TM hybrid autonomous surface/underwater vehicles called JaiaBots^TM.

MAI’s extensive expertise in the collection, analysis, and modeling of underwater acoustics data has earned them an excellent reputation in the Environmental Services, Energy, and Defense sectors. Their experienced and highly qualified engineering team will lead the selection and development of the passive acoustic system, the sales, and marketing of the JaiaBot-ECHO^TM, and develop new deployment opportunities.

Jaia Robotics continues its product development at pace and will co-lead the integration of the MAI developed acoustic system into their JaiaBot-HYDRO^TM vehicle. JaiaBots can be operated individually or in multi-vehicle fleets at depths from 1-100 m and in a wide variety of aquatic environments, including open ocean, surf zones, estuaries, rivers, and lakes.

JaiaBots represent a significant advancement in affordable aquatic drones supporting the environmental data collection needs of academia, industry, and government agencies, including the US Department of Defense.

“The addition of an acoustic sensing capability opens a wide variety of new markets, including the offshore renewable energy sector, defense, and the fast-growing aquaculture and fisheries industries,” says Ian Estaphan Owen, CEO and Co-Founder of Jaia Robotics.

Ian went on to say, “We are proud to have entered into a partnership with a prestigious organization like MAI, which further endorses the unique multi-vehicle synoptic data applications that the JaiaBot system can provide, at a cost that is more affordable than anything else available.”

Tom Stewart, the CEO of Marine Acoustics, inc., adds, “Marine Acoustics is pleased to enter this collaboration with Jaia Robotics. The relatively low-cost acoustic monitoring vehicles that Jaia Robotics will produce provide a versatile, cost-effective, human-portable tool for obtaining aquatic acoustic measurements at multiple sample sites over a short period of time. This capability aids in the sustainable development of ocean-based renewable energy and the responsible development and use of the marine environment.”