a brand of UAV-DEV GmbHOmnidirectional propulsion
Four thrusters allow movement in any direction regardless of heading. Hold position, hold heading, approach a sheet pile wall sideways. If two thrusters fail, the boat still comes home.
Multi-Sensor USV
SensorBoat
An unmanned autonomous boat that carries your sensors: 10 kg payload on 20 generic mounts, RTK GNSS with heading, redundant propulsion and about 12 hours of endurance. Developed, built and field-proven by UAV-DEV GmbH in Bremerhaven, made in Germany.
120 × 80 × 56 cm · 36 kg · Made in Germany
Technical data
SensorBoat at a glance
Platform
- Dimensions
- 120 cm × 80 cm × 56 cm
- Draft
- approx. 20 cm
- Weight
- 36 kg without payload
- Payload
- max. 10 kg
- Mounts, top
- 9 × generic
- Mounts, bottom
- 11 × generic
- Battery
- 1.5 kWh LiFePO4
- Propulsion
- 4 × T200, redundant
- Endurance
- approx. 12 h / approx. 34 km
- Speed
- 0.8 m/s, max. 1.4 m/s
Control & communication
- Vehicle control
- ArduPilot, open source
- GNSS
- L1/L2/L5 RTK with heading
- Video
- live via data link
- Obstacle avoidance
- 360° laser scanner
- Data link
- 4G/5G with backup
- Missions
- autonomous, pause/resume, upload under way
- Sonar integration
- live depth, side-scan, control from shore
- Origin
- Made in Germany, Bremerhaven
- Availability
- in production, lead time on request
Design
Built for sensors, not around them.
The payload interface is the core of the SensorBoat: mechanical fastening, cable routing and sealing in one part. Your adapter comes out of a 3D printer.
Generic mount: closed, open, with sensor adapter.
Autonomous missions
Plan survey lines, upload, go. Live video and telemetry reach the shore via 4G/5G. Missions can be paused, resumed and replaced by new ones while under way.
Sonar live from the shore
Depth and side-scan imagery are transmitted while the boat is running. You control the sonar from SonarView or your own software while the boat follows the lines.
RTK accuracy
The L1/L2/L5 RTK receiver provides position and heading at centimetre level, the basis for georeferenced depth data and repeatable survey lines.
A full day on the water
1.5 kWh LiFePO4 is enough for about 12 hours or 34 km. A sand pit of around ten hectares is fully covered in one morning.
Open and adaptable
ArduPilot as vehicle control, documented interfaces, standard components. We integrate your sensor or use case. That is part of our offer.
In the field
Sand pit, 26 June 2026
About four hours of autonomous survey lines in sunshine and light wind. All photos were taken by the drone that also delivered the orthophoto for the evaluation.
FAQ
Questions about the SensorBoat
What is the SensorBoat?
An unmanned autonomous boat (USV, unmanned surface vehicle) for surveying and sensing on inland waters and in harbours. It carries up to 10 kg of payload, runs survey lines autonomously with ArduPilot and is built in Bremerhaven, Germany.
Which sensors can the SensorBoat carry?
Multibeam and single-beam echo sounders, side-scan sonars, cameras, water quality probes, samplers and your own sensors. 20 generic mounts with fastening, cable routing and sealing take a 3D-printed adapter for your sensor.
Can I buy or rent the SensorBoat?
The SensorBoat is available as a product, lead time on request. Alternatively we survey your waters as a service with our own boat and staff.
How long does the SensorBoat run?
About 12 hours or roughly 34 km at 0.8 m/s on the 1.5 kWh LiFePO4 battery. Propulsion with four T200 thrusters is redundant: the boat returns even with two thrusters down.
A SensorBoat for your sensor?
Tell us what the boat should carry. We check weight, power supply and data connection and send you a quote including the payload adapter.