ENVGO and Open Ocean Robotics team up on Canadian uncrewed maritime systems

ENVGO and Open Ocean Robotics signed an MOU at DEFSEC Atlantic to connect their Canadian-built uncrewed surface vessels and command software for maritime awareness missions. The deal pairs ENVGO’s high-speed hydrofoiling XV2 with Open Ocean Robotics’ persistent solar-powered USVs and XplorerView platform.

Why it matters: - The collaboration is meant to support sovereign Canadian maritime capabilities as Canada increases investment in uncrewed and autonomous systems. - The companies are aiming at wider coverage across Canada’s coastlines and Arctic approaches without adding crew or large vessels. - The effort is positioned as a system-of-systems model for defense, security, and other maritime missions.

What happened: - ENVGO and Open Ocean Robotics signed a memorandum of understanding at DEFSEC Atlantic in Halifax, Nova Scotia. - The agreement connects ENVGO’s high-speed hydrofoiling uncrewed surface vessels with Open Ocean Robotics’ persistent solar-powered USVs and XplorerView command-and-control platform. - Both companies are holding private briefings with government, defense, and industry stakeholders at the event.

The details: - XplorerView will serve as a common operating environment for both companies’ uncrewed vessels. - The companies will jointly define integration milestones, interfaces, and demonstration objectives. - ENVGO’s platform uses onboard autonomy, electric and hybrid propulsion, and hydrofoils. - ENVGO says the underlying hydrofoil technology has logged more than 300 hours of testing and 1,000 kilometres of open-water foiling. - XV2 is the first autonomous vessel on ENVGO’s platform and is described as Canada’s only dual-mission-mode micro-USV. - XV2 can sprint to a mission area at up to 25 knots on hydrofoils and then loiter for intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance. - XV2 has a 2.0-metre hull and weighs 68 kilograms. - One person can deploy XV2 with minimal launch infrastructure. - ENVGO says XV2 moved from concept to in-water trials in under six months and is available for private demonstrations to Canadian defense and security customers. - Open Ocean Robotics says XplorerView is a secure, cloud-based maritime intelligence platform that can manage multiple uncrewed vessels and combine vessel, sensor, and mission data into one operational picture. - XplorerView can support mission planning, vessel monitoring, health checks, and integration of AIS, radar, camera, sensor, and navigation data. - Open Ocean Robotics’ DataXplorer USVs have more than 13,000 operational hours at sea across three ocean basins. - DataXplorer deployments have exceeded 30 days continuously and operated in conditions up to Sea State 7. - The DataXplorer platform uses onboard sensors, AI-enabled detection, and satellite communications for persistent maritime awareness without onboard crew or propulsion fuel. - ENVGO is led by the team behind Aeryon Labs, whose SkyRanger uncrewed aircraft system was deployed in more than 35 countries. - Open Ocean Robotics was founded in 2018 and is headquartered in Victoria, British Columbia, with operations in Halifax, Nova Scotia.

Between the lines: - The partnership reflects a push to link fast-moving uncrewed assets with long-endurance sensor platforms. - The Canadian-built focus suggests both companies are targeting domestic procurement and interoperability priorities. - Julie Angus said XplorerView has been proven through years of DataXplorer operations and that adding new USV capabilities shows how Canadian technologies can work together for Canada and its allies. - Mike Peasgood said Canada’s maritime future will be hybrid, with crewed ships supported by distributed uncrewed systems.

What's next: - The companies will work on technical integration and define demonstration goals. - Private demonstrations of ENVGO’s XV2 are available for Canadian defense and security customers. - The MOU sets up a path to show coordinated operations between persistent and high-speed USVs in maritime missions.

The bottom line: - ENVGO and Open Ocean Robotics are trying to build a Canadian uncrewed maritime stack that pairs endurance, speed, and command software into one distributed operational model.