WaiV Robotics has launched its autonomous drone launch and recovery platform in the U.S., targeting offshore operators seeking to expand the use of unmanned aerial vehicles for inspection, maintenance and emergency response.
The London-based company announced its U.S. market entry during the Energy Drone & Robotics Summit in Houston, following a $7.5 million seed funding round.
WaiV’s platform is designed to enable autonomous launch and recovery of UAVs from moving vessels, addressing what it says is one of the key challenges of offshore drone operations: safely landing aircraft in dynamic sea conditions.
As offshore oil, gas and wind energy projects continue moving farther from shore, operators face increasing pressure to improve inspection and response capabilities across remote assets. WaIV said in a statement that drones have become more common for infrastructure monitoring, but rough seas and vessel motion can limit their effectiveness if recovery systems are unreliable.
WaiV said its system combines AI-based predictive algorithms with a proprietary catch-lock-release mechanism to support autonomous UAV recovery in challenging maritime environments.
The system features a gyro-stabilized landing platform that compensates for vessel movement caused by waves and sea state. During final approach, AI-enabled flight controls guide the UAV to the landing surface, reducing reliance on manual piloting. Once landed, the platform secures the aircraft using a locking system designed to stabilize the UAV in high-sea conditions.
According to the company, the platform is compatible with a range of vertical takeoff and landing UAVs, including multirotor, fixed-wing and helicopter configurations, without requiring modifications to the aircraft.
Potential offshore applications include wind turbine inspections, oil and gas asset maintenance, leak detection, spill response coordination and security monitoring around offshore infrastructure.
The company said its U.S. expansion reflects growing demand for autonomous systems that can improve situational awareness and extend operational reach in offshore environments.
