Oshen, a company specializing in ocean data collection, built the first ocean robot designed to gather information within a Category 5 hurricane. The company was founded by Anahita Laverack, who shifted her focus from aerospace engineering to ocean robotics after recognizing a critical gap in ocean data collection during an autonomous robotics challenge.

Laverack's initial venture was participating in the Microtransat Challenge in 2021, a competition focused on building autonomous, sail-powered micro-robots capable of crossing the Atlantic Ocean. Despite her experience as a sailor, her attempt, like those of others, was unsuccessful. This led her to identify a key problem: the lack of sufficient ocean data to inform the robots' navigation and survival. "I realized half the reason that all of these attempts were failing is, number one, obviously its hard to make micro-robots survive on the ocean," Laverack told TechCrunch. "But number two, they dont have enough data on the ocean to know what the weather is or even know what the ocean conditions are like."

Subsequently, Laverack attended conferences such as Oceanology International to investigate the availability of ocean data. She discovered a significant need for improved data collection methods, with many expressing interest in paying her to gather this information. This demand led her to establish Oshen, with the goal of creating a fleet of robots specifically designed for ocean data collection.

The robots are equipped with sensors to measure various parameters, including wave height, water temperature, salinity, and wind speed. The data collected is intended to improve weather forecasting, climate modeling, and maritime safety. The ability to gather data in extreme weather conditions, such as a Category 5 hurricane, represents a significant advancement in oceanographic research.

The development of these robots could have a substantial impact on industries reliant on accurate ocean data, including shipping, fishing, and offshore energy. Improved data can lead to safer navigation, more efficient resource management, and better preparedness for extreme weather events. Oshen's technology also has potential applications in environmental monitoring and conservation efforts.

The company has not yet released specific details about the robot's performance during the Category 5 hurricane or the exact location of the data collection. Further information regarding the data collected and future deployments is expected to be released in the coming months.