Colias vs Surveyor
Side-by-side comparison of Colias (Computer Intelligence Lab at the University of Lincoln) and Surveyor (Saildrone Inc.) — specs, pricing, Robo Index, and verified deployments. Updated daily.
Optimize comparison for buyer
Layer 1: Identity & Trust
Manufacturer Country
- Colias—
- SurveyorUnited States
Year First Available
- Colias2018
- Surveyor2015
Verified Deployments
- Colias0 Deployments
- Surveyor0 Deployments
Layer 2: Operational
Battery / Shift Runtime
- Colias1.5 hrs
- Surveyor8,640 hrs
Availability Status
- ColiasACTIVE
- SurveyorACTIVE
Layer 3: Category Specific
Payload Capacity
- Colias5 kg
- Surveyor100 kg
Reach
- Colias850 mm
- Surveyor—
Max Speed
- Colias0.4 m/s
- Surveyor3.4 m/s
Autonomy Level
- Colias—
- Surveyorfully autonomous
| | |
|---|---|---|
| Layer 1: Identity & Trust | ||
| Manufacturer Country (values differ) | — | United States |
| Year First Available (values differ) | 2018 | 2015 |
| Verified Deployments | 0 Deployments | 0 Deployments |
| Layer 2: Operational | ||
| Battery / Shift Runtime (values differ) | 1.5 hrs | 8,640 hrs |
| Availability Status | ACTIVE | ACTIVE |
| Layer 3: Category Specific | ||
| Payload Capacity (values differ) | 5 kg | 100 kg |
| Reach (values differ) | 850 mm | — |
| Max Speed (values differ) | 0.4 m/s | 3.4 m/s |
| Autonomy Level (values differ) | — | fully autonomous |
Insufficient data for full comparison
The following fields had no data for any of the selected robots: Price, IP Rating
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
| Metric | Colias | Surveyor |
|---|---|---|
| Investment | No price | No price |
| Payback period | — | — |
| Net savings (5 yr) | — | — |
| ROI (5 yr) | — | — |
Colias, Surveyor 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 Colias and Surveyor?
Colias is made by Computer Intelligence Lab at the University of Lincoln. Surveyor is made by Saildrone Inc., based in US.
When were Colias and Surveyor launched?
Colias launched in 2018. Surveyor launched in 2015.
How do Colias and Surveyor compare on the Robo Index?
Colias grades BB on the Robo Index. Surveyor grades BB. 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 Colias and Surveyor 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 Colias and Surveyor?
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
7 min readResearch & Lab Robots
The research-robot procurement RFP: questions and red flags
11 min readResearch & Lab Robots
A 90-day playbook to stand up a new platform in a lab
8 min readResearch & Lab Robots
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
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About this comparison
Colias vs Surveyor 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.