Oshen, a marine robotics startup, has achieved a historic milestone by successfully deploying autonomous micro-robots that collected critical data from within a Category 5 hurricane. Founded by Anahita Laverack and electrical engineer Ciaran Dowds in April 2022, the company specializes in fleets of “C-Star” robots designed for long-term, high-endurance ocean monitoring.
From Sailing Challenges to Ocean Innovation
The company’s origins trace back to Laverack’s participation in the 2021 Microtransat Challenge, an autonomous sailing competition. Her attempt to send a micro-robot across the Atlantic failed, mirroring the struggles of others in the field. Laverack identified a critical gap: existing micro-robots lacked the durability to survive harsh marine environments and, more importantly, lacked access to real-time ocean condition data.
After discovering that research and defense sectors were willing to pay for reliable ocean data, Laverack pivoted from aerospace engineering to launch Oshen. The founders initially bootstrapped the venture, living on a 25-foot sailboat at a low-cost U.K. marina, which served as their primary testing platform for two years.
The Engineering Challenge: Durability at Scale
Developing the C-Star robots required balancing three competing priorities: mass deployability, low cost, and advanced autonomous performance. Laverack noted that while many competitors excelled in one or two of these areas, Oshen focused on mastering all three simultaneously.
Testing these units proved dangerous, as the team often had to venture into severe winter storms to ensure the hardware could withstand unpredictable conditions. This rigorous testing phase eventually caught the attention of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).
Historic Hurricane Data Collection
Two months before the 2025 hurricane season, NOAA requested Oshen’s assistance. The startup rapidly manufactured 15 C-Star units, deploying eight into the field. Five of these robots were positioned near the U.S. Virgin Islands as Hurricane Humberto approached.
The results exceeded expectations. Three of the C-Star robots not only navigated the storm but remained operational throughout the event. Despite sustaining minor damage, they successfully recorded data from the heart of a Category 5 hurricane—a feat previously unachieved by autonomous ocean robotics.
Scaling for Global Demand
Following their success, Oshen has relocated to a marine tech hub in Plymouth, England. The company is currently fulfilling contracts for both the U.K. government and various defense organizations. With demand for their autonomous swarms increasing, Laverack confirmed that the company is preparing to raise venture capital to scale production and expand its operations.