LS3 vs Saildrone Explorer
Side-by-side comparison of LS3 (Boston Dynamics, Inc. (Hyundai Motor Group subsidiary)) and Saildrone Explorer (Saildrone Inc.) — specs, pricing, Robo Score, and verified deployments. Updated daily.
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Optimized for Hospitality & F&B buyers. Priority specs lifted to the top and marked with a target.
Layer 1: Identity & Trust
Manufacturer Country
- LS3United States
- Saildrone ExplorerUnited States
Year First Available
- LS32010
- Saildrone Explorer2015
Verified Deployments
- LS30 Deployments
- Saildrone Explorer0 Deployments
Layer 2: Operational
Battery / Shift Runtime
- LS3—
- Saildrone Explorer8,760 hrs
Availability Status
- LS3ACTIVE
- Saildrone ExplorerACTIVE
Layer 3: Category Specific
Payload Capacity
- LS3181.4 kg
- Saildrone Explorer20 kg
Reach
- LS3—
- Saildrone Explorer900 mm
Max Speed
- LS33 m/s
- Saildrone Explorer8 m/s
Autonomy Level
- LS3—
- Saildrone Explorerfully autonomous
| | |
|---|---|---|
| Layer 1: Identity & Trust | ||
| Manufacturer Country | United States | United States |
| Year First Available (values differ) | 2010 | 2015 |
| Verified Deployments | 0 Deployments | 0 Deployments |
| Layer 2: Operational | ||
| Battery / Shift Runtime (priority for Hospitality & F&B buyers) (values differ) | — | 8,760 hrs |
| Availability Status | ACTIVE | ACTIVE |
| Layer 3: Category Specific | ||
| Payload Capacity (priority for Hospitality & F&B buyers) (values differ) | 181.4 kg | 20 kg |
| Reach (values differ) | — | 900 mm |
| Max Speed (values differ) | 3 m/s | 8 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 | LS3 | Saildrone Explorer |
|---|---|---|
| Investment | No price | No price |
| Payback period | — | — |
| Net savings (5 yr) | — | — |
| ROI (5 yr) | — | — |
LS3, 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 LS3 and Saildrone Explorer?
LS3 is made by Boston Dynamics, Inc. (Hyundai Motor Group subsidiary), based in US. Saildrone Explorer is made by Saildrone Inc., based in US.
When were LS3 and Saildrone Explorer launched?
LS3 launched in 2010. Saildrone Explorer launched in 2015.
How do LS3 and Saildrone Explorer compare on the Robo Score?
LS3 scores 42.3 on the Robo Score. Saildrone Explorer scores 66.5. The Robo Score is a 0–100 credibility figure blending commercial maturity, verified deployments, company standing, and independent coverage — see methodology for the full breakdown.
Are LS3 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 LS3 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
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
LS3 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 Score is calculated.