New player enters underwater robotics market with AUV prototype

April 3, 2026, by Nadja Skopljak

ZenaTech, a Canadian technology company specializing in AI drone, drone as a service (DaaS), enterprise SaaS and quantum computing solutions, has entered the underwater robotics market with the development of an autonomous underwater vehicle (AUV) prototype.

ZenaTech reported on March 31 that its ZenaDrone subsidiary had developed the IQ Aqua AUV prototype intended for multiple underwater use cases across defense and commercial markets.

In addition to defense applications, IQ Aqua will be used for autonomous inspection of offshore energy pipelines, subsea cables, and maritime infrastructure.

The current prototype operates with a tethered, battery-powered configuration, while the next-generation prototype that will be tether-free and GPS-independent is in the making.

ZenaTech is now manufacturing several more prototypes to conduct outdoor underwater field testing in the U.S. and in other international locations to commence over the coming months.

According to the company, Gulf Cooperation Council nations, including the UAE, Saudi Arabia, and Qatar, are a priority future commercial market due to their extensive offshore hydrocarbon assets, major port facilities, and coastline protection requirements.