RiSE vs Saildrone Explorer
Side-by-side comparison of RiSE (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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Layer 1: Identity & Trust
Manufacturer Country
- RiSEUnited States
- Saildrone ExplorerUnited States
Year First Available
- RiSE2006
- Saildrone Explorer2015
Verified Deployments
- RiSE0 Deployments
- Saildrone Explorer0 Deployments
Layer 2: Operational
Battery / Shift Runtime
- RiSE—
- Saildrone Explorer8,760 hrs
Availability Status
- RiSEACTIVE
- Saildrone ExplorerACTIVE
Layer 3: Category Specific
Payload Capacity
- RiSE22,000 kg
- Saildrone Explorer20 kg
Reach
- RiSE—
- Saildrone Explorer900 mm
Max Speed
- RiSE0.3 m/s
- Saildrone Explorer8 m/s
Autonomy Level
- RiSE—
- Saildrone Explorerfully autonomous
| | |
|---|---|---|
| Layer 1: Identity & Trust | ||
| Manufacturer Country | United States | United States |
| Year First Available (values differ) | 2006 | 2015 |
| Verified Deployments | 0 Deployments | 0 Deployments |
| Layer 2: Operational | ||
| Battery / Shift Runtime (values differ) | — | 8,760 hrs |
| Availability Status | ACTIVE | ACTIVE |
| Layer 3: Category Specific | ||
| Payload Capacity (values differ) | 22,000 kg | 20 kg |
| Reach (values differ) | — | 900 mm |
| Max Speed (values differ) | 0.3 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 | RiSE | Saildrone Explorer |
|---|---|---|
| Investment | No price | No price |
| Payback period | — | — |
| Net savings (5 yr) | — | — |
| ROI (5 yr) | — | — |
RiSE, 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 RiSE and Saildrone Explorer?
RiSE 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 RiSE and Saildrone Explorer launched?
RiSE launched in 2006. Saildrone Explorer launched in 2015.
How do RiSE and Saildrone Explorer compare on the Robo Score?
RiSE scores 42.0 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 RiSE 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 RiSE 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
RiSE 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.