Following a $7.5 million seed round, WaiV Robotics brings its maritime UAV recovery platform to the United States, allowing offshore operators to reliably deploy and recover UAVs directly from moving vessels
London, UK, June 15, 2026 – WaiV Robotics, a maritime autonomous infrastructure developer, announces its official launch into the U.S. market, extending its autonomous UAV (unmanned aerial vehicle) drone launch and recovery technology to offshore operators nationwide. The expansion comes as offshore energy infrastructure is moving farther offshore, increasing the need for faster, more flexible inspection, maintenance, and emergency response capabilities. WaiV’s system pairs AI-powered predictive algorithms with its patent-pending catch-lock-release technology to support reliable UAV recovery, even as vessels navigate challenging maritime environments.
As oil and wind-energy operations continue to push into more remote and demanding offshore environments, safe and reliable drone-enabled operations become even more critical. Mechanical failures, structural damage, leaks, or security incidents often require rapid assessment, but access windows are frequently limited by distance and sea conditions. While UAVs can reduce the need for crew-based inspections, their value depends on their ability to recover safely and remain operational in unpredictable offshore conditions.
As the first to solve fully autonomous UAV landings at sea, WaiV provides the infrastructure needed to make drone operations reliable in real-time maritime conditions. WaiV’s platform enables operators to launch, recover, and redeploy UAVs directly from moving vessels, allowing drones to serve as operational tools rather than one-time inspection assets. By supporting reliable UAV operations in real-world maritime conditions, the platform helps extend situational awareness and operational reach across remote environments. The system’s capabilities include:
- Gyro-stabilized landing surface that actively compensates for wave conditions.
- AI-enabled flight control command to UAV that takes over in final approach to touchdown, eliminating human error from the landing sequence.
- Proprietary landing pad that absorbs impact and locks onto the UAV’s skids to secure in high-sea conditions.
- Broad compatibility with vertical takeoff and landing UAVs, including multirotor, fixed-wing, and helicopter configurations, with no UAV modifications required.
In the energy sector, WaiV’s platform enables UAVs to inspect active wind turbines, support oil and gas infrastructure maintenance, detect and track leaks and coordinate cleanup logistics, monitor activity around critical assets, and assist offshore operations vessels. The U.S. expansion follows WaiV’s recent $7.5 million seed funding round and reflects growing demand for autonomous infrastructure that can support drone operations in harsh maritime environments.
“The future of offshore energy depends more than where assets are deployed; it also depends on the ability to maintain and support them over time,” says Johnny Carni, Founder and CEO of WaiV Robotics. “As energy assets continue to move farther from shore, operators need more efficient ways to maintain, support, and respond to issues across remote infrastructure. Our platform was built to make UAVs a reliable part of offshore operations, ensuring they can be used for missions where speed, safety, and access matter most. As we expand into the U.S., we look forward to helping American operators transform their existing vessels into dependable hubs for all types of maritime operations.”
About
About WaiV Robotics
Born from firsthand experience, WaiV Robotics was created to solve a critical challenge for offshore maritime fleets: enabling the safe, reliable, and consistent use of UAVs for mission execution while improving operational efficiency and effectiveness. The company develops autonomous maritime infrastructure for UAV operations in offshore environments, integrating stabilization, sensor-driven control, and secure landing mechanisms to support dependable drone deployment from moving vessels. WaiV is focused on advancing the infrastructure needed to scale UAV use across commercial, defense, and broader maritime applications.
Leadership
Johnny Carni, CEO and Founder
Media Contact
Ofir ofir@reblonde.com