Saildrone Explorer vs Salamandra robotica II
Side-by-side comparison of Saildrone Explorer (Saildrone Inc.) and Salamandra robotica II (Biorobotics Laboratory at EPFL) — specs, pricing, Robo Score, and verified deployments. Updated daily.
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Layer 1: Identity & Trust
Manufacturer Country
- Saildrone ExplorerUnited States
- Salamandra robotica IISwitzerland
Year First Available
- Saildrone Explorer2015
- Salamandra robotica II2012
Verified Deployments
- Saildrone Explorer0 Deployments
- Salamandra robotica II0 Deployments
Layer 2: Operational
Battery / Shift Runtime
- Saildrone Explorer8,760 hrs
- Salamandra robotica II—
Availability Status
- Saildrone ExplorerACTIVE
- Salamandra robotica IIACTIVE
Layer 3: Category Specific
Payload Capacity
- Saildrone Explorer20 kg
- Salamandra robotica II10 kg
Reach
- Saildrone Explorer900 mm
- Salamandra robotica II600 mm
Max Speed
- Saildrone Explorer8 m/s
- Salamandra robotica II1.4 m/s
Autonomy Level
- Saildrone Explorerfully autonomous
- Salamandra robotica IIsemi-autonomous
| | |
|---|---|---|
| Layer 1: Identity & Trust | ||
| Manufacturer Country (values differ) | United States | Switzerland |
| Year First Available (values differ) | 2015 | 2012 |
| 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) | 20 kg | 10 kg |
| Reach (values differ) | 900 mm | 600 mm |
| Max Speed (values differ) | 8 m/s | 1.4 m/s |
| Autonomy Level (values differ) | fully autonomous | semi-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 | Saildrone Explorer | Salamandra robotica II |
|---|---|---|
| Investment | No price | No price |
| Payback period | — | — |
| Net savings (5 yr) | — | — |
| ROI (5 yr) | — | — |
Saildrone Explorer, Salamandra robotica II 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 Saildrone Explorer and Salamandra robotica II?
Saildrone Explorer is made by Saildrone Inc., based in US. Salamandra robotica II is made by Biorobotics Laboratory at EPFL, based in CH.
When were Saildrone Explorer and Salamandra robotica II launched?
Saildrone Explorer launched in 2015. Salamandra robotica II launched in 2012.
How do Saildrone Explorer and Salamandra robotica II compare on the Robo Score?
Saildrone Explorer scores 66.5 on the Robo Score. Salamandra robotica II scores 58.1. 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 Saildrone Explorer and Salamandra robotica II 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 Saildrone Explorer and Salamandra robotica II?
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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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
Saildrone Explorer vs Salamandra robotica II 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.