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Bruno vs Saildrone Explorer

Side-by-side comparison of Bruno (Hajime Research Institute and TU Darmstadt) and Saildrone Explorer (Saildrone Inc.) — specs, pricing, Robo Index, and verified deployments. Updated daily.

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Optimized for Home & Household buyers. Priority specs lifted to the top and marked with a target.

Layer 1: Identity & Trust

Manufacturer Country

  • Bruno
  • Saildrone Explorer
    Saildrone ExplorerUnited States

Year First Available

  • Bruno2010
  • Saildrone Explorer
    Saildrone Explorer2015

Verified Deployments

  • Bruno0 Deployments
  • Saildrone Explorer
    Saildrone Explorer0 Deployments

Layer 2: Operational

Battery / Shift Runtime

  • Bruno0.5 hrs
  • Saildrone Explorer
    Saildrone Explorer8,760 hrs

Availability Status

  • BrunoACTIVE
  • Saildrone Explorer
    Saildrone ExplorerACTIVE

Layer 3: Category Specific

Payload Capacity

  • Bruno
  • Saildrone Explorer
    Saildrone Explorer20 kg

Reach

  • Bruno
  • Saildrone Explorer
    Saildrone Explorer900 mm

Max Speed

  • Bruno0.4 m/s
  • Saildrone Explorer
    Saildrone Explorer8 m/s

Autonomy Level

  • Brunofully autonomous
  • Saildrone Explorer
    Saildrone Explorerfully autonomous

Insufficient data for full comparison

The following fields had no data for any of the selected robots: Price, IP Rating

best in categoryweakest in categoryvalues differ

ROI Comparison

Same operating assumptions across every robot — the only difference is price. Set your numbers once to see which pays back fastest.

Annual labor displaced (per robot): $50,000

MetricBrunoSaildrone Explorer
InvestmentNo priceNo price
Payback period
Net savings (5 yr)
ROI (5 yr)

Bruno, Saildrone Explorer have no listed price, so payback can't be computed. Contact the manufacturer for a quote.

Estimates labor-cost displacement only — not a full total cost of ownership. Actual ROI depends on integration, maintenance, training, downtime, and task fit. Converted currencies are indicative; USD is the price of record.

Trade-offs at a glance

Frequently asked

Who makes Bruno and Saildrone Explorer?

Bruno is made by Hajime Research Institute and TU Darmstadt. Saildrone Explorer is made by Saildrone Inc., based in US.

When were Bruno and Saildrone Explorer launched?

Bruno launched in 2010. Saildrone Explorer launched in 2015.

How do Bruno and Saildrone Explorer compare on the Robo Index?

Bruno grades B on the Robo Index. Saildrone Explorer grades AA. The Robo Index is a credibility grade (AAA … C) that blends commercial maturity, verified deployments, company standing, and independent coverage — see methodology for the full breakdown.

Are Bruno 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 Bruno 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.

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About this comparison

Bruno 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 Robo Index is calculated.