Founded in 2019 by former National Geographic engineers Eric Berkenpas and Mike Shepard, Second Star Robotics builds autonomous sensing platforms and deep-water imaging systems for studying the ocean. Its long-endurance observer platforms dive through the water column and drift with currents, carrying sensors for deployments that can last days or months. The company also provides engineering and R&D consulting for field-ready systems in marine and terrestrial environments, drawing on more than 30 years of combined experience.
Phoenix International Holdings, IncFounded in 1997 by six underwater operations experts to repair U.S. Navy ships, Phoenix International Holdings now provides manned and unmanned underwater services and engineering for commercial and government clients worldwide. The employee-owned company operates from eight U.S. offices and combines commercial diving with deepwater robotics, including in-house-designed vehicles capable of working to 6,000 meters. Phoenix’s quality system is certified to ISO 9001:2015 across its locations and lines of business.LARGO, MD
Brightwaters Instrument CorporationFounded in 1990, Brightwaters Instrument Corporation builds custom and semicustom scientific and oceanographic equipment, including autonomous drifting buoys, and provides OEM design and manufacturing services. The privately held New York company specializes in systems that combine environmental sensing with GPS and satellite telemetry, serving government, university, and private-sector research programs. Its support extends beyond delivery with around-the-clock field assistance, equipment repair, and refurbishment for instruments used at sea.BRIGHTWATERS, NY
Tiburon Subsea IncFounded by ocean explorer Tim Taylor, Tiburon Subsea is a subsea technology company focused on making underwater intelligence more accessible. Its team combines decades of marine engineering and exploration experience to develop autonomous vehicles for organizations that need reliable ocean data, including defense and offshore operators. The company is best known for its patented JETTE™ propulsion technology, which gives underwater vehicles greater maneuverability in demanding environments.NEW YORK, NY
CrabLine RoboticsBorn in Dr. Kathryn Daltorio’s mechanical engineering lab at Case Western Reserve University, CrabLine Robotics develops crab-like, multi-legged robots for precise work underwater. Its thruster-independent machines use their legs to stabilize on pipes and other structures while delivering tools or retrieving objects in difficult industrial and military environments. The Cleveland company was formed in early 2023 by Daltorio, entrepreneur Carla Macklin, and PhD candidates John Grezmak and Jiyuan Jiang with support from the National Science Foundation.SHAKER HEIGHTS, OH