Robotics company Tethys Robotics was established in 2024, focusing on the development of underwater inspection robots. Utilizing acoustic detection technology, these robots can perform precise navigation and positioning in low-visibility water environments, accomplishing highly challenging autonomous inspection, mapping, and search and rescue tasks.

Tethys Robotics is a spin-off from ETH Zurich, co-founded by Jonas Wüst, Pragash Sivananthaguru, and Johannes Lienhart. Jonas Wüst serves as the CEO, holds a Master’s in Robotics from ETH Zurich, and previously worked as a researcher at the ETH Zurich Foundation. Pragash Sivananthaguru is the CTO, holding a Master’s in Biomedical Engineering from ETH Zurich. Johannes Lienhart is the COO, with a Master’s in Robotics from ETH Zurich.

Oceans, lakes, and rivers often have high turbidity, low visibility, and very limited operational space, making search, inspection, and monitoring work extremely difficult and dangerous. Currently, the common method for underwater inspection or search involves hiring professional divers, which carries risks of permanent or fatal injuries, including decompression sickness, carbon dioxide poisoning, drowning, hypothermia, nitrogen narcosis, and significant psychological and physiological stress. Another market option is semi-autonomous underwater robots, but these devices often suffer from poor underwater visibility and lack GPS signals, limiting navigation accuracy. In terms of market potential, the annual compound growth potential in the underwater industrial inspection and search and rescue fields exceeds $8 billion. Driven by growing demand for sustainable asset monitoring from renewable energy and critical infrastructure, the global seabed inspection market alone has an annual size exceeding €5 billion.

Tethys Robotics has developed the world’s first underwater inspection robot capable of autonomous operation in high-intensity currents. This robot relies on specialized acoustic sensors to navigate precisely in turbid waters and perform high-precision automated inspections, search and rescue, and structural mapping in environments where traditional Remotely Operated Vehicles and divers struggle.

The Tethys Robotics underwater inspection robot can perform high-precision positioning and environmental inspection work in near-zero visibility conditions. The robot is equipped with a DVL, side-scan, and forward-looking sonar sensors. DVL, or Doppler Velocity Log, is an acoustic sensor that uses long pulses along at least three acoustic beams to estimate velocity relative to the seabed. The acoustic sensor data, combined with proprietary algorithms, provides the Tethys Robotics robot with 360-degree terrain awareness and positioning/navigation capabilities, enabling it to perform autonomous area coverage or structural scanning tasks. Furthermore, the robot possesses 360º roll, pitch, and yaw motion control capabilities, allowing it to conduct stationary inspection operations even in currents with speeds up to 3.5 knots.

The Tethys Robotics underwater inspection robot features two operational modes: Remotely Operated (ROV) and Fully Autonomous (AUV). It weighs only 35 kilograms, has an operational runtime of 4 hours, a range of two kilometers, and can be deployed in underwater environments up to 300 meters deep within 10 minutes. The robot’s modular design allows for seamless integration of various payloads, such as sensors, high-definition cameras, metal detectors, and manipulator arms. It can provide high-resolution data collection and real-time 3D mapping. Integrating environmental data like metal detection, current, pressure, temperature, oxygen levels, thickness, and Non-Destructive Testing can further enhance the accuracy of the 3D models. Additionally, the robot’s built-in gripper has a lifting capacity equivalent to a fully equipped diver, enabling easy interaction with the environment. This assists the robot in inspecting equipment and structures in harsh underwater conditions, thereby reducing human risk and improving maintenance safety.

Tethys Robotics targets the industrial inspection and search and rescue markets, primarily for the regular inspection and maintenance needs of underwater infrastructure. Currently, Tethys Robotics has collaborated with archaeologists, hydropower plant operators, and public authorities requiring inspections of structures like bridge piers. In the future, the robot aims to serve various environments including hydropower, offshore wind farms, and oil and gas platforms for underwater inspection and search operations.

In September 2023, Tethys Robotics received 150,000 Swiss Francs in funding from Venture Kick. This funding will be used to accelerate pilot projects with its first customers and enhance the company’s international demonstration and promotion efforts.