Oshen has achieved a maritime milestone by deploying the first ocean robot capable of collecting critical data from within a Category 5 hurricane, proving its technology can withstand the most extreme weather conditions on Earth.
Overcoming the Winter Storm Challenge
“In the summer, that’s not too bad,” founder Laverack said regarding operations. “The problem is you really need your boats to work in all seasons. When your robot breaks, [and] it’s a winter storm that’s raging, a 25-foot sailboat shouldn’t really be going out in those conditions. So, that led to some adventure, which I wouldn’t say any more about, but there were certainly some interesting events there.”
Engineering for Scale and Durability
Perfecting the technology proved challenging, as Laverack noted that simply shrinking existing large-scale robots was not a viable solution. The objective was to create bots that were mass-deployable and cost-effective, yet sophisticated enough to operate autonomously and gather data over extended periods.
While many competitors have managed to balance two of these three requirements, Oshen’s ability to achieve all three simultaneously began attracting significant interest from defense and government sectors.
From NOAA Partnership to Hurricane Success
The company first caught the attention of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) two years ago. At that time, the technology was not yet ready for reliable deployment. However, after Oshen successfully tested its robots in harsh U.K. winter storms, NOAA reached out again just two months before the 2025 hurricane season. Oshen responded by rapidly manufacturing 15 C-Star units and deploying eight of them.
Five of these C-Star units were deployed near the U.S. Virgin Islands, positioned directly in the projected path of Hurricane Humberto.
Laverack explained that while the initial goal was simply to collect pre-storm data, three of the robots managed to weather the entire hurricane. Despite losing a few minor components, they remained functional throughout the event, cementing their status as the first ocean robots to successfully capture data from inside a Category 5 hurricane.
Scaling Operations and Future Growth
Following this success, Oshen has relocated to a hub for marine technology in Plymouth, England. The company is currently securing contracts with high-profile clients, including the U.K. government, for both defense and meteorological operations.
To maintain this momentum and meet rising market demand, Laverack confirmed that the company plans to initiate a venture capital fundraising round in the near future.
