This article originally appeared in the July/August issue of Startups Magazine. Click here to subscribe

The ocean is the swishing, swirling, pulsating heart of earth, covering over 70% of its surface. It is vital for enabling life. It contributes to climate regulation, biodiversity, the economy, and oxygen production. Yet, it is estimated that more than 80% of the sea remains unexplored because despite its immense value, technological challenges, harsh conditions, lack of funding, resources, and data ensure that it remains an enigmatic well of untapped wonder.

Oshen aims to change this, and they are on a mission to explore its depths.

From sailing to startup

The idea for Oshen took root when Anahita was studying Aerospace Engineering at Imperial College London.

A keen sailor since the age of eight, Anahita wanted to focus on something she was passionate about for her Master’s thesis. She decided to combine her love of sailing with her love of aerospace.

“I found this challenge called ‘The Microtransat Challenge.’ It’s for autonomous sailboats to try to cross the Atlantic Ocean. To me, it was such a compelling challenge because no one had ever achieved it yet – despite it being founded in 2006.”

However, this proved more difficult than anticipated as it seemed that there was no accurate ocean data or information on the winds and tides available, leading Anahita to explore alternatives. She soon found that the method for collecting ocean data relied on drifting buoys – plastic balls with sensors that often drift away, leading to the information gathered being inaccurate or a limited capacity, and the buoys becoming pollutants. Plus, the volatile nature and the vastness of the sea make gathering data this way a huge, and usually expensive, resource-intensive challenge.

To Anahita, it seemed implausible that there are autonomous robots in space, yet “we can’t get a robot to do what Christopher Columbus managed to do 500 years ago.”

The usual cause of failure in collecting data, she notes, is very bad navigation – not using the winds or the tides.

It is here that she set out to build a one metre, fully autonomous sail robot to do just that – prompting the unintended, but vitally needed founding of Oshen.

The vessel

Oshen vessels can autonomously sail the sea on a set navigation, sending hourly signals through satellite technology, vastly expediating traditional 24hr cycle methods of data collection.

The vessels are designed to work in networked fleets, and Oshen has created a lightweight sail-powered ocean observation platform. These self-navigating, micro-vessels use an array of wind propulsion and onboard solar-powered visual and acoustic sensors enabling them to be deployed for months at a time. They are small enough to be launched from anywhere – be that from a boat or the beach – and lightweight enough to be deployed by one person.

The accuracy of the information gathered via the numerous sensors allows users real-time, factual, and actionable data. Even better, if the device is moved or swept off course, it can self-steer back to its target site. This longevity coupled with onboard intelligence can enable planned, targeted responses for weather events, provide flood updates, and aid in better route planning for shipping, minimising pollution and emissions.

Funding

The European Space Agency Business Incubation Centre United Kingdom (ESA BIC UK) programme is an initiative that supports space startups by providing them with resources, expertise, and funding. ESA BIC UK is a joint effort managed and partly funded by the Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC), in collaboration with the European Space Agency (ESA) and the UK Space Agency.

Oshen is one of the latest companies to join the ESA BIC UK programme at STFC’s Daresbury Laboratory at Sci-Tech Daresbury. Through this, Oshen has access to STFC’s world-class expertise, research facilities, and technical resources.

Mission

Oshen's mission is to make ocean data accessible and affordable for everyone, from climate change researchers in Tuvalu to offshore wind farm developers.

"Our long-term goal is that anyone who needs affordable access to ocean data can get it … Right now, they can't really do that. In the short term, our goal is to serve the communities that need it the most."

One of the most significant commercial applications of Oshen’s technology is in the offshore wind sector. Before starting offshore wind development, developers need to collect baseline data on marine mammals and seabirds. Oshen’s micro-vessels can provide continuous monitoring and aiding in environmental planning.

"We can have a micro-vessel or a fleet of them out there for a year … listening to the local marine mammal population and informing planning consent decisions … This could help accelerate offshore wind development [while protecting marine life]."

Additionally, Oshen’s technology is valuable for scientific research, weather forecasting, and environmental monitoring.

The ebbs and flows

Developing Oshen's technology has not been without challenges. Anahita highlights the need for a combination of skills, including sailing knowledge, aerodynamics, and electronics engineering. She also emphasises the importance of practical experience in making the boats robust and waterproof.

"A common issue with engineering graduates nowadays is a big focus on coding and theoretical stuff. But making a boat waterproof or easy to take apart requires practical experience. Building connections with older engineers who have experience at sea has been crucial."

The Oshen team tested their micro-vessel at sea, and they achieved remarkable results: the vessel accurately followed a triangular course, successfully performed dynamic course corrections against challenging tides, demonstrated robustness by covering 100km in over 50 hours of autonomous sailing, and showcased precision navigation by sailing ashore within 30 metres of a target waypoint.

What’s next?

Oshen plans to expand its fleet and commercial operations with the aim to make their first fully commercial leases of micro-vessels towards the end of the year.

With their cutting-edge technology, Anahita and her team are set to change ocean data collection enabling a more sustainable and informed future for everyone.

"There are exciting opportunities ahead."