Sunken Robotics

Docking, charging, and data infrastructure for autonomous underwater inspection vehicles.

Based in Alpha Building, TU/e Campus, Eindhoven, Netherlands

About Us

We're a team of engineers who studied together in Eindhoven and started building around one idea: autonomous inspection robots for underwater structures. We've joined the TU/e Entrepreneurship Contest and won two prizes, and we're now based in the Alpha building alongside other startups.

We saw the need for more efficient underwater inspections — the kinds of problems that range from monopile corrosion to scour. Our solution is a piece of infrastructure that lets an inspection drone operate on its own, long-term, without a boat or a crew standing by.

The Sunken Robotics team holding their TU/e Contest 2026 Impact Award and GROW @TWICE Award

What We're Building

We're currently designing and engineering our first housing and docking station.

Dock

Mission complete, the AUV returns to the seafloor housing and hovers into the docking enclosure.

Secure

The AUV is clamped reliably in place, held secure against currents and debris.

Charge

A reliable connection charges the AUV while docked, built for long-term durability.

Transfer Data

Mission data transfers over the same docking connection to the user interface or existing systems.

Monitor

While docked, system health and mission data are reviewed, flagging issues like sensor or camera fouling for resolution.

Redeploy

Once charged and systems check out nominal, a new mission is uploaded and the AUV detaches to redeploy under optimal conditions.

We're focusing on waterways and canals first, with long-term goals in offshore wind and energy.

Milestones

TU/e Entrepreneurship Contest

Participated in the TU/e Contest, where we learned how to maximise our startup's chance of success, made many valuable contacts, and confirmed real demand for our idea and solution.

TU/e Contest 2026 winners holding their award cheques

Alpha Startup Building

Our home base is Alpha, the startup hub on the TU/e campus in Eindhoven, where we have our own office space and work side by side with other early-stage startups on the same campus.

Entrance of the Alpha building on the TU/e campus

Proof of Concept

Actively building our first housing/docking prototype and AUV, working toward a system that can dock, secure, charge, transfer data and redeploy underwater without a crew standing by.

Structural and flow analysis of an early housing concept

Roadmap

2026

Proof of concept completed through market research and conversations with industry contacts. User and system requirements defined, and housing design started.

2027

First housing prototype finished. Testing begins, with the data collected feeding directly into the design of version 2.

2028

Version 2 finished and a first potential pilot client identified. First testing on site, with funding obtained to move forward.

2029

Company established and the team grown. Expansion into other markets beyond our initial waterways and canals focus.

2030+

Entry into the offshore wind farm market, improving the housing and AUV system and scaling to more infrastructure and locations.