Can hardware engineering and development cycles match those of software? At Sofar Ocean, we believe that we can produce rugged, durable, and mission-critical hardware quickly and iteratively by taking a modular approach.

Spotter can now partition data to provide better insight into the nature of the sea state.

The Sofar Strider is a coastal, near-shore and inland water monitoring platform capable of extended range and multiple sensor configurations.

To provide precise information of ocean weather where we need it, the ability to deploy ocean sensor systems from the air is critical.

To provide a direct validation of the Spotter motion sensing capabilities, we purpose-built a motion-controlled teststand that enables detailed simulation of realistic ocean surface motions.

To compare the Spotter data with traditional scientific instrumentation, we deploy a Spotter alongside a Datawell Waverider near Mavericks, the California big-wave surf spot. Detailed comparison of spectra and directional moments confirms outstanding Spotter data quality.

Over time we’ve learned from our deployments in the field to make gradual refinements in material choices and mechanical design to Spotter. With these changes and a newly incorporated sensor, we are proud to introduce: Spotter v2.