



From $4,900Base package on Blue Robotics' store; tether, lights, Heavy kit, sonar etc. are extra
AvailableVia SSH / web / bridgeOpen sourceArduSub / BlueOS300 m (aluminum)Research standard
Possibly ≤ 1 weekShipping: Days (in-stock kits). Ordered directly from Blue Robotics in California or from its distributors; it arrives partially assembled. Blue Robotics store ↗
Remote control: Connect over the tether's Ethernet link and send MAVLink commands (e.g.
pymavlink manual_control or RC overrides) to ArduSub; BlueOS also hosts custom extensions.Overview
The low-cost, open-source ROV that became the de facto platform for university marine robotics, aquaculture inspection and hobbyist exploration. Released in 2016, it runs the open ArduSub autopilot and BlueOS on a Raspberry Pi, so everything from thruster mixing to camera streams is hackable. It ships partially assembled (6–8 h build) and is endlessly extensible with Blue Robotics' sonar, grippers and third-party payloads.
The default choice for anyone who wants a programmable, repairable ROV.
Specifications
| Category | Swimming robots · Developer & research ROVs/AUVs |
|---|---|
| Released | 2016 |
| Availability | Available |
| Programmability | Open source (hardware + software) |
| Best for | Ages 18+ (estimated) |
| Vision sensors | Camera, Sonar / ultrasonic |
| Actuators | Brushless / direct-drive motors |
| Audio | No audio |
| Compute type | Raspberry Pi |
| Remote control | Via SSH / web / bridge |
| Size | 457 × 338 × 254 mm, 11–12 kg with ballast and battery |
| Propulsion | 6 T200 thrusters (4 vectored, 2 vertical); 8 with Heavy configuration |
| Depth rating | 100 m (acrylic tubes) or 300 m (aluminum tubes) |
| Tether / comms | Standard 25–300 m or slim 50–200 m; Ethernet over Fathom-X interface |
| Camera | 1080p30 low-light USB camera, 110° FOV, ±90° tilt; 2–4 × 1,500 lm Lumen lights |
| Sensors | 6-DOF IMU, dual magnetometers, barometer, Bar30 depth/temperature, leak sensor, current/voltage sensing; sonar and DVL add-ons |
| Runtime | ~2 h normal / ~4 h light use (15.6 Ah battery, 30-s swap) |
| Speed | 1.5 m/s (3 kn) |
| Compute | Raspberry Pi 4 (2 GB) + Navigator autopilot running BlueOS / ArduSub |
| SDK | ArduSub (MAVLink), BlueOS extensions, pymavlink, QGroundControl / Cockpit, ROS drivers (community) |
Ratings & reviews
Ratings and reviews load on the live site.
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