HyQ vs Saildrone Explorer
Side-by-side comparison of HyQ (Italian Institute of Technology (IIT)) and Saildrone Explorer (Saildrone Inc.) — specs, pricing, Robo Index, and verified deployments. Updated daily.
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Layer 1: Identity & Trust
Manufacturer Country
- HyQItaly
- Saildrone ExplorerUnited States
Year First Available
- HyQ2011
- Saildrone Explorer2015
Verified Deployments
- HyQ0 Deployments
- Saildrone Explorer0 Deployments
Layer 2: Operational
Price
- HyQ$1,200,000 USD
- Saildrone ExplorerContact for quote
Battery / Shift Runtime
- HyQ—
- Saildrone Explorer8,760 hrs
Availability Status
- HyQACTIVE
- Saildrone ExplorerACTIVE
Layer 3: Category Specific
Payload Capacity
- HyQ—
- Saildrone Explorer20 kg
Reach
- HyQ—
- Saildrone Explorer900 mm
Max Speed
- HyQ3.4 m/s
- Saildrone Explorer8 m/s
Autonomy Level
- HyQpartially autonomous
- Saildrone Explorerfully autonomous
| | |
|---|---|---|
| Layer 1: Identity & Trust | ||
| Manufacturer Country (values differ) | Italy | United States |
| Year First Available (values differ) | 2011 | 2015 |
| Verified Deployments | 0 Deployments | 0 Deployments |
| Layer 2: Operational | ||
| Price (values differ) | $1,200,000 USD | Contact for quote |
| Battery / Shift Runtime (values differ) | — | 8,760 hrs |
| Availability Status | ACTIVE | ACTIVE |
| Layer 3: Category Specific | ||
| Payload Capacity (values differ) | — | 20 kg |
| Reach (values differ) | — | 900 mm |
| Max Speed (values differ) | 3.4 m/s | 8 m/s |
| Autonomy Level (values differ) | partially autonomous | fully autonomous |
Insufficient data for full comparison
The following fields had no data for any of the selected robots: 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 | HyQ | Saildrone Explorer |
|---|---|---|
| Investment | $1,200,000 | No price |
| Payback period | 288.0 mo | — |
| Net savings (5 yr) | -$950,000 | — |
| ROI (5 yr) | -79% | — |
Saildrone Explorer has 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 HyQ and Saildrone Explorer?
HyQ is made by Italian Institute of Technology (IIT), based in IT. Saildrone Explorer is made by Saildrone Inc., based in US.
When were HyQ and Saildrone Explorer launched?
HyQ launched in 2011. Saildrone Explorer launched in 2015.
How do HyQ and Saildrone Explorer compare on the Robo Index?
HyQ grades BB 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 HyQ 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 HyQ 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
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About this comparison
HyQ 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.