Fleet Robotics Inc., formerly Bluetech Robotics, develops autonomous submersible swarm robots for continuous ship hull cleaning and inspection. The company was founded by microrobotics pioneers and is headquartered in the United States, with CEO Sidney McLaurin leading operations. The core technology addresses biofouling - the accumulation of marine organisms on ship hulls that increases drag and fuel consumption - through a system designed to operate continuously at sea without requiring vessels to stop at port.
The technical architecture centers on tiny autonomous robots that operate in coordinated swarms to clean and inspect hulls during normal maritime operations. These submersible units are purpose-built for extended deployment in marine environments, handling the mechanical constraints of underwater operation while maintaining autonomous navigation and task execution. The system integrates with an intelligent data platform that processes sensor data from the robot fleet to provide performance insights for vessel operators, enabling data-driven optimization of ship operations.
Fleet Robotics claims its technology can reduce fuel emissions by up to 35% through proactive hull maintenance combined with performance analytics. The approach represents a shift from periodic drydock cleaning to continuous maintenance, requiring the robots to handle variable hull geometries, different coating types, and diverse biofouling conditions across global maritime routes. The company's work spans multiple technical domains including microrobotics, swarm coordination algorithms, underwater autonomy, sensor integration, and maritime data analytics, serving the shipping and marine transportation sectors.