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Saildrone Explorer vs SPLITTER

Side-by-side comparison of Saildrone Explorer (Saildrone Inc.) and SPLITTER (University of California Los Angeles (UCLA) - RoMeLa) — specs, pricing, Robo Score, and verified deployments. Updated daily.

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Layer 1: Identity & Trust

Manufacturer Country

  • Saildrone Explorer
    Saildrone ExplorerUnited States
  • SPLITTER
    SPLITTER

Year First Available

  • Saildrone Explorer
    Saildrone Explorer2015
  • SPLITTER
    SPLITTER2025

Verified Deployments

  • Saildrone Explorer
    Saildrone Explorer1 Deployment
  • SPLITTER
    SPLITTER

Layer 2: Operational

Battery / Shift Runtime

  • Saildrone Explorer
    Saildrone Explorer8,760 hrs
  • SPLITTER
    SPLITTER

Availability Status

  • Saildrone Explorer
    Saildrone ExplorerACTIVE
  • SPLITTER
    SPLITTERACTIVE

Layer 3: Category Specific

Payload Capacity

  • Saildrone Explorer
    Saildrone Explorer20 kg
  • SPLITTER
    SPLITTER

Reach

  • Saildrone Explorer
    Saildrone Explorer900 mm
  • SPLITTER
    SPLITTER

Max Speed

  • Saildrone Explorer
    Saildrone Explorer8 m/s
  • SPLITTER
    SPLITTER2.1 m/s

Autonomy Level

  • Saildrone Explorer
    Saildrone Explorerfully autonomous
  • SPLITTER
    SPLITTER

Insufficient data for full comparison

The following fields had no data for any of the selected robots: Price, IP Rating

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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

MetricSaildrone ExplorerSPLITTER
InvestmentNo priceNo price
Payback period
Net savings (5 yr)
ROI (5 yr)

Saildrone Explorer, SPLITTER 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 SPLITTER?

Saildrone Explorer is made by Saildrone Inc., based in US. SPLITTER is made by University of California Los Angeles (UCLA) - RoMeLa.

When were Saildrone Explorer and SPLITTER launched?

Saildrone Explorer launched in 2015. SPLITTER launched in 2025.

How do Saildrone Explorer and SPLITTER compare on the Robo Score?

Saildrone Explorer scores 66.5 on the Robo Score. SPLITTER scores 31.3. 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 SPLITTER 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 SPLITTER?

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

Saildrone Explorer vs SPLITTER 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.