Aqua2 vs Saildrone Explorer
Side-by-side comparison of Aqua2 (Independent Robotics) and Saildrone Explorer (Saildrone Inc.) — specs, pricing, Robolist Product Score, and verified deployments. Updated daily.
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Layer 1: Identity & Trust
Manufacturer Country
- Aqua2Canada
- Saildrone ExplorerUnited States
Year First Available
- Aqua22010
- Saildrone Explorer2015
Verified Deployments
- Aqua20 Deployments
- Saildrone Explorer0 Deployments
Layer 2: Operational
Price Range (USD)
- Aqua2$85,000
- Saildrone ExplorerContact for quote
Battery / Shift Runtime
- Aqua25 hrs
- Saildrone Explorer8,760 hrs
Availability Status
- Aqua2ACTIVE
- Saildrone ExplorerACTIVE
Layer 3: Category Specific
Payload Capacity
- Aqua225 kg
- Saildrone Explorer20 kg
Max Speed
- Aqua25 m/s
- Saildrone Explorer1.5 m/s
Autonomy Level
- Aqua2semi-autonomous
- Saildrone Explorerfully autonomous
| | |
|---|---|---|
| Layer 1: Identity & Trust | ||
| Manufacturer Country (values differ) | Canada | United States |
| Year First Available (values differ) | 2010 | 2015 |
| Verified Deployments | 0 Deployments | 0 Deployments |
| Layer 2: Operational | ||
| Price Range (USD) (values differ) | $85,000 | Contact for quote |
| Battery / Shift Runtime (values differ) | 5 hrs | 8,760 hrs |
| Availability Status | ACTIVE | ACTIVE |
| Layer 3: Category Specific | ||
| Payload Capacity (values differ) | 25 kg | 20 kg |
| Max Speed (values differ) | 5 m/s | 1.5 m/s |
| Autonomy Level (values differ) | semi-autonomous | fully autonomous |
Insufficient data for full comparison
The following fields had no data for any of the selected robots: Reach, IP Rating
best in categoryweakest in categoryvalues differ
Trade-offs at a glance
Frequently asked
Who makes Aqua2 and Saildrone Explorer?
Aqua2 is made by Independent Robotics, based in CA. Saildrone Explorer is made by Saildrone Inc., based in US.
When were Aqua2 and Saildrone Explorer launched?
Aqua2 launched in 2010. Saildrone Explorer launched in 2015.
How do Aqua2 and Saildrone Explorer compare on the Robolist Product Score?
Aqua2 scores 56/100. Saildrone Explorer scores 56/100. The Product Score blends specs, pricing transparency, verified deployments, and independent media coverage — see methodology for the full breakdown.
Are Aqua2 and Saildrone Explorer in the same category?
Both robots are classified as Research on Robolist. Filters and ranking treat them as direct alternatives.
What is the realistic total cost of ownership for Research robots?
Hardware cost is one input. Research TCO also includes integration, training, downtime, and end-of-life. Our breakdown: The real cost of a research platform.
What should a buyer ask vendors when choosing between Aqua2 and Saildrone Explorer?
Spec sheets only show part of the story. Useful vendor questions cover support, lifecycle, integration cost, and references. We have a buyer-focused checklist: The research-robot procurement RFP: questions and red flags.
Going deeper — picking the right robot
The real cost of a research platform
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The research-robot procurement RFP: questions and red flags
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A 90-day playbook to stand up a new platform in a lab
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Build vs buy vs lease: which model fits a first deployment
8 min readChoosing Your First Robot
The hidden specs vendors hope you'll miss
10 min readReading the Spec Sheet
About this comparison
Aqua2 vs Saildrone Explorer compares two robots in the research category. All data is sourced from manufacturer spec sheets, verified deployments, and third-party filings; see our methodology for how the Robolist Product Score is calculated.