These are independent reviews of the products mentioned, but TIME receives a commission when purchases are made through affiliate links at no additional cost to the purchaser.
Understanding our oceans is critical to understanding our planet, yet underwater exploration has traditionally been a costly, time-consuming endeavor. Hydrus democratizes oceanic exploration the same way drones democratized flight. The autonomous underwater vehicle (starts at $45,000), which comes with powerful lights, 4k cameras, and an AI image processing system, can descend to a depth of 9,842 feet (3,000 meters), all in a package less than 15 pounds and small enough to fit in carry-on luggage. With no need to rent a special vessel to lower Hydrus overboard, amateurs (with some funding) can easily enter the fray, planning missions from a laptop in minutes.
More Must-Reads from TIME
- Why Trump’s Message Worked on Latino Men
- What Trump’s Win Could Mean for Housing
- The 100 Must-Read Books of 2024
- Sleep Doctors Share the 1 Tip That’s Changed Their Lives
- Column: Let’s Bring Back Romance
- What It’s Like to Have Long COVID As a Kid
- FX’s Say Nothing Is the Must-Watch Political Thriller of 2024
- Merle Bombardieri Is Helping People Make the Baby Decision
