Founded in 2009 and based in Aspremont (PACA) and Vannes (Brittany), Arkeocean stands out as a rising star of maritime deep-tech. It designs and sells underwater robotic solutions: swarms of micro-AUVs (Autonomous Underwater Vehicles) that are intelligent, autonomous and low-cost, able to conduct exploration, surveillance and marine protection missions.
Technological innovation: the emergence of swarms.
At the heart of Arkeocean’s offer lies the micro-AUV swarm systems, designed to operate in complete autonomy up to several thousand metres under the sea. These robots, coming in at less than one metre long (like the “Olmek” or “Inca” models), use cutting-edge acoustic technologies derived from military developments and sophisticated software architecture to cover vast maritime areas.
The mission cycle is organised remotely from a command centre that allocates the areas to cover, the depth and acoustic detection parameters, and the communication protocols. Once released, the AUVs drift passively in the current, saving their battery power, and only position themselves actively using small propellers, if necessary.
When they pick up on a noteworthy acoustic signal, they emerge briefly to transmit the position and data.
Arkeocean also specialises in AUV swarms that rest on the ocean floor, thereby creating underwater surveillance barriers. This enables them to limit their battery use and continuously save data for months at a time.
This unique approach makes it possible to reach an endurance time of several days, or even weeks, with a high degree of discretion – ideal for strategic surveillance, undersea infrastructure protection and information gathering – all while remaining affordable and scalable.
From LELANTOS to DESPOT: some pioneering projects
• LELANTOS: the first intelligent micro-AUV system, deployed in collaboration with the French navy. Sea drills took place in April 2023 during the Orion exercise (simulation of a saturation attack by swarming loitering munitions), then in December 2023 at the port of Toulon (surveillance and alert mission). The demonstrator proved the feasibility of using an acoustic swarm for data collection and alerting in the water column.
• DESPOT: financed as par t of the France 2030 programme, this system is capable of guiding and positioning swarms of up to several thousand micro- AUVs for deepwater exploration. It is the result of a call for “deep-sea” projects in April 2024.
• RECORD CONTRAT: in November 2024, Arkeocean signed a contract to supply several thousand micro-AUVs for deep-sea missions.
• EONIOS: Arkeocean recently revealed the first resident system for the surveillance of protected marine areas. Called Eonios, it is the culmination of a Franco-Cypriot collaboration, developed in partnership with the CMMI (Cyprus Marine and Maritime Institute). Eonios, the very first ‘resident’ swarm of autonomous underwater vehicles dedicated to the protection, surveillance and restoration of underwater areas, was chosen following a rigorous selection process to represent Cyprus at the 2025 UN Ocean Conference, held in June in Nice, France.
The project was spotlighted during a diplomatic event organised by Cyprus as a strategic solution to preserve and restore protected marine areas.
EONIOS imagines a future where underwater technology becomes a natural component of marine ecosystems, using swarms of autonomous underwater vehicles operating fully independently, in harmony with nature-based artificial reefs and using renewable energy sources. This system constitutes a major step forward in the protection of the oceans at a global scale.
INDUSTRIALISATION AND SOVEREIGNTY
Commercial success has led Arkeocean to strengthen its production capacity, with a new industrial site under construction in Theix-Noyalo (Brittany), in order to establish its place in the French defence technology industrial base (DTIB).
The company is growing thanks in particular to funds and public contracts (France 2030, Perseus label, France Armée Innovation).
Arkeocen thus embodies the profound shift in underwater robotics towards to autonomous, affordable and sovereign multi-robot systems. The company is ideally positioned in this major technological revolution, namely the switch from isolated underwater drones to intelligent swarms capable of complex and sustainable missions.
With record contracts, strategic partnerships and a growing manufacturing base, Arkeocean is establishing itself as a major player in tomorrow’s maritime sector – at the crossroads of defence, energy and ecology.
Taking on challenges like industrialisation, regulation and financing, the company is progressing with considerable advantages: patented technology, State backing (France 2030, Perseus label) and growing cooperation with international players. The future of underwater surveillance and exploration may well play out through swarms, and Arkeocean is one of the most promising pioneers in the sector.
Romain Proglio, Partner, Accuracy
Accuracy Talks Straight #13 – Start-up stories