Bedrock Raises $25M to Map the Seafloor with Robotics

Mapping the Ocean Floor: A New Era of Underwater Exploration

Despite oceans covering over 70% of the Earth’s surface, our understanding of the seabed remains surprisingly limited. In fact, we possess more detailed maps of the moon than of the ocean floor.

This disparity stems from the challenges of underwater exploration – the ocean’s depths are obscured, and the environment presents significant difficulties for human investigation.

Bedrock Ocean Secures Funding for Advanced Mapping Technology

Numerous companies are currently engaged in efforts to create more comprehensive ocean maps. Recently, Bedrock Ocean has secured $25 million in Series A-2 funding, led by Primary and Northzone, as reported exclusively to TechCrunch.

Additional investors in this round included Autopilot, Costanoa Ventures, Harmony Partners, Katapult, and Mana Ventures.

Autonomous Underwater Vehicles (AUVs) for Efficient Mapping

Bedrock Ocean has engineered an autonomous underwater vehicle (AUV) capable of operating for up to 12 hours on a single charge from its lithium-ion batteries.

This AUV utilizes both sonar and magnetic sensors to meticulously map the ocean floor.

A Shift from Traditional Mapping Methods

Historically, ocean floor mapping has relied on large ships emitting powerful sonar pulses. These vessels are fuel-intensive and require substantial human crews, resulting in high operational costs.

Furthermore, traditional sonar methods can be disruptive to marine ecosystems.

The Potential of AUVs to Revolutionize Ocean Mapping

“The long-term goal, pursued for two decades, is to replace traditional mapping ships with more efficient alternatives,” explains Brandon Mah, COO of Bedrock Ocean, in an interview with TechCrunch.

While Bedrock Ocean’s AUVs are initially deployed from a ship, they function independently once submerged.

Two AUVs can achieve the same coverage as a single traditional mapping ship, and a 40-foot vessel can accommodate 10 to 12 of these units.

In-House Design and Software Development

Bedrock Ocean designs and manufactures its own AUVs, with each unit costing less than $1 million.

The company has also developed proprietary software for both AUV operation and data mapping.

Data is stored locally on the AUVs and undergoes initial processing onboard.

Upon surfacing, the AUVs transmit data to the support ship via Wi-Fi, which then utilizes a Starlink antenna to relay the information to the cloud for real-time monitoring.

Real-Time Data Quality Assurance

“This system allows us to verify data quality and identify areas requiring further investigation in near real time,” Mah states.

Minimizing Impact on Marine Life

The AUVs operate approximately five to ten meters above the seafloor, enabling the use of lower-power sonar.

Bedrock Ocean asserts that its sonar technology poses a reduced risk to marine mammals due to its frequency being outside the range of animal hearing, lower power output, and proximity to the seabed.

Accuracy and Positioning

Bedrock Ocean’s AUVs can position objects on the ocean floor with an accuracy of one to two meters.

This is slightly less precise than the sub-meter accuracy achievable with ship-based surveys, a consequence of losing GPS signals underwater.

Underwater positioning relies on inertial navigation, which is inherently less accurate than GPS.

Balancing Accuracy and Efficiency

Mah contends that sub-meter accuracy isn’t always necessary, and that faster mapping speeds can benefit many seafloor operations.

For example, while offshore wind developers may initially require high-precision surveys, two-meter accuracy may suffice during the construction phase.

Applications and Growing Interest

Over the past two quarters, the startup has completed paid survey work for offshore wind, oil and gas, and environmental assessment projects.

The speed and accessibility of the data have also garnered attention from the U.S. Navy, who were reportedly impressed by the demonstrated capabilities.

Update 7 pm ET: It has been clarified that Brandon Mah is the COO of Bedrock Ocean, not the CEO as previously reported.