British startup Oshen has achieved a major technological milestone by developing autonomous marine robots capable of collecting live data from within a Category 5 hurricane. This breakthrough addresses a critical data gap in extreme weather events, promising to revolutionize oceanography and climate modeling.
From Bootstrapped Beginnings to Breakthrough
The company was co-founded in April 2022 by Anahita Laverack, whose background in aerospace engineering led her to a global autonomous robotics challenge, and electrical engineer Ciarán Doods. Frustrated by the lack of accurate sea and weather data that hampered previous attempts to cross the Atlantic with robotic sailboats, Laverack identified a universal need for cost-effective, long-term marine data collection.
Rather than seeking early-stage venture capital, the founders self-funded their project, purchasing a 25-foot sailboat and converting it into a floating laboratory in one of the UK’s most affordable harbors. This hands-on approach allowed them to test and iterate their designs in harsh, real-world conditions for two years.
C-Stars: A New Frontier in Ocean Data
Oshen developed a fleet of small, low-cost autonomous robots known as C-Stars. Designed for endurance and mass deployment, these robots can remain at sea for up to 100 days, operating individually or in swarms to monitor wave patterns, wind speeds, and other dynamic surface conditions in the most extreme environments.
The key challenge was balancing size, cost, and advanced technology to create a durable platform for long-term autonomous operation—a formula many larger companies have struggled to perfect.
A Historic Mission Inside a Hurricane
Oshen’s technology captured the attention of government and defense agencies, including the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). Ahead of the 2025 hurricane season, NOAA collaborated with the startup for a mission near the U.S. Virgin Islands.
Over 15 C-Stars robots were deployed in the path of a forecasted hurricane. While the primary goal was to gather pre-storm data, three of the robots successfully endured the full force of the storm, collecting a complete dataset from inside the Category 5 hurricane. This marks the first time marine robots have ever documented direct measurements from within a storm of such intensity.
MENA Implications: Maritime Security and Climate Tech
While hurricanes are not a direct threat to the Gulf and Red Sea, Oshen’s technology holds significant relevance for the MENA region. The platform’s ability to provide persistent, low-cost, and real-time maritime monitoring is invaluable for securing strategic waterways, protecting critical offshore infrastructure like oil rigs and desalination plants, and enhancing naval defense capabilities.
Furthermore, as the region invests heavily in climate tech and giga-projects like NEOM, the data collected by such autonomous systems can support advanced weather forecasting, marine ecosystem research, and climate change modeling, aligning with the strategic goals of nations across MENA.
About Oshen
Based in Plymouth, UK, a leading center for marine technology, Oshen is a startup developing advanced autonomous marine robots for long-term ocean data collection. The company has secured contracts with government and defense entities, including the UK government, for applications in weather forecasting and maritime security. Oshen is now preparing to raise investment to scale its operations amid growing global demand for its technology.
Source: Fintech Gate
