Kraken Robotics

Kraken Robotics is a Canadian marine technology company based in Newfoundland and Labrador. It develops and supplies underwater robotics, sonar, sensors, and related subsea imaging technologies for commercial, scientific, and defense applications. Its principal area of specialization is synthetic aperture sonar (SAS), a form of acoustic imaging designed to produce high-resolution maps and images of the seabed from an underwater platform. The business was established in 2012 as Kraken Sonar Systems Inc. by Karl Kenny, a marine technologist and businessman from Newfoundland and Labrador. From its early development phase, the company concentrated on making advanced seabed-imaging technology available for operational use in autonomous and remotely operated underwater vehicles. Its work has been associated with marine search, hydrographic surveying, subsea inspection, ocean science, and naval or defense missions. Kraken's early customer and project history helped demonstrate the practical value of its sonar systems. Defence Research and Development Canada used Kraken's technology during the 2014 search for the ships associated with Sir John Franklin's lost Arctic expedition. The company's technology was also used in the search for an Avro Arrow aircraft in Lake Ontario. These applications helped establish Kraken's reputation in difficult underwater search and mapping environments. The company subsequently supplied sonar equipment to Ocean Infinity for use aboard the vessel Seabed Constructor during the search for Malaysia Airlines Flight 370. That engagement connected Kraken's imaging systems with one of the most prominent large-scale commercial marine search operations of the period and illustrated the potential for its technology beyond conventional defense procurement. Kraken became a publicly traded company on the TSX Venture Exchange on February 25, 2015. In 2017, it changed its corporate name from Kraken Sonar Systems Inc. to Kraken Robotics, reflecting a broader business scope that included underwater vehicles, sensors, and other marine robotic capabilities in addition to sonar. The company's offering is centered on enabling underwater platforms to collect detailed information in environments where satellite positioning, optical cameras, and direct human access are limited. Its technologies can support the detection, classification, and mapping of seabed features, objects, infrastructure, and other subsea targets. Customers and users may deploy such systems from autonomous underwater vehicles, remotely operated vehicles, or other marine platforms. In 2025, Kraken expanded its United States operations through the acquisition of 3D at Depth, an underwater LiDAR imaging company. The transaction broadened the company's subsea-imaging portfolio beyond acoustic sonar by adding underwater laser-based measurement and imaging capabilities. Also in May 2025, Kraken announced orders valued at $3 million for its synthetic aperture sonar systems from customers in Asia-Pacific, Europe, and North America, including the Roger F. Wicker Center for Ocean Enterprise at the University of Southern Mississippi. Kraken Robotics is positioned as a specialist marine-technology supplier rather than a mass-market robotics brand. Its business is based on complex hardware, software, integration, and mission-support capabilities for professional users. The company operates in a technically demanding market shaped by defense requirements, offshore and subsea infrastructure inspection, oceanographic research, maritime search, and the increasing use of autonomous underwater systems.

Kraken Robotics was founded in 2012 in Newfoundland and Labrador as Kraken Sonar Systems Inc. by Karl Kenny. The company was created to develop commercial applications for advanced underwater sensing, with a particular emphasis on synthetic aperture sonar. SAS combines acoustic data collected along a platform's path to create detailed seabed imagery, making it useful in environments where visibility is poor and conventional optical systems are ineffective. The company's early work was connected to significant Canadian marine-search and research activities. Defence Research and Development Canada used Kraken's sonar technology during the 2014 search for the ships involved in the lost Franklin expedition. The project provided an important operational demonstration of the company's ability to support searches in challenging Arctic waters. Kraken's technology was also used in efforts to locate an Avro Arrow in Lake Ontario, another application that showcased its seabed-imaging capabilities. Kraken later supplied sonar equipment to Ocean Infinity for the Seabed Constructor during the search for Malaysia Airlines Flight 370. The engagement placed the company's systems within a major international commercial search program and showed how its technology could be integrated with large maritime platforms and underwater vehicles. On February 25, 2015, Kraken became a public company through a listing on the TSX Venture Exchange. In 2017, it adopted the name Kraken Robotics, a change that reflected the broadening of its activities beyond sonar systems alone. The revised identity encompassed a wider portfolio of underwater robotic systems, sensors, payloads, and marine-imaging technologies. Kraken's business has remained focused on professional underwater applications. Its technologies are intended for deployment from autonomous or remotely operated underwater vehicles and can support seabed mapping, object detection, subsea inspection, maritime search, oceanographic research, and defense missions. The company's value proposition lies in combining high-resolution underwater imaging with robotic platforms that can operate at depth and in conditions that are difficult or hazardous for crewed vessels and divers. In 2025, Kraken expanded its geographic and technological footprint by acquiring 3D at Depth, a United States-based underwater LiDAR imaging company. The acquisition added a complementary optical-imaging capability to Kraken's established acoustic-sonar portfolio and supported an expanded presence in the United States. In May of the same year, Kraken received $3 million in orders for its synthetic aperture sonar systems from customers in Asia-Pacific, Europe, and North America. One identified customer was the Roger F. Wicker Center for Ocean Enterprise at the University of Southern Mississippi. Today, Kraken Robotics is best understood as a specialized marine-technology and underwater-imaging company. It serves institutional, defense, research, and commercial users rather than consumer markets. Its history has been shaped by the transition of sophisticated sonar and subsea sensing from research-oriented systems toward deployable products for autonomous underwater operations.

1. 2025Acquisition of 3D at Depth

   Kraken acquired underwater LiDAR imaging company 3D at Depth and expanded operations in the United States.

   Source
2. 2017Corporate name changed to Kraken Robotics

   The company adopted the Kraken Robotics name as its activities expanded beyond sonar into broader underwater robotics and sensing.

   Source
3. 2015Initial public listing

   Kraken became publicly traded on the TSX Venture Exchange on February 25.

   Source
4. 2014Technology supports Franklin expedition ship search

   Defence Research and Development Canada used Kraken's sonar technology during the search for the ships lost during Sir John Franklin's expedition.

   Source
5. 2012Company founded as Kraken Sonar Systems

   Karl Kenny founded Kraken Sonar Systems Inc. in Newfoundland and Labrador to develop commercial underwater sonar and seabed-imaging technologies.

   Source

A specialist provider of high-resolution underwater imaging and marine robotic technologies for defense, commercial, scientific, and subsea-inspection users.

• Synthetic aperture sonar systemsUnderwater sonar

  Kraken's core product family uses synthetic aperture sonar to create high-resolution acoustic images and maps of the seabed. The systems are intended for integration with autonomous and remotely operated underwater vehicles and can support marine search, seabed characterization, defense missions, infrastructure inspection, and oceanographic work.

• Underwater robotics systemsMarine robotics

  Kraken develops robotic and sensor technologies for subsea operations, including payloads and systems that allow underwater platforms to collect and process information in deep, dark, or otherwise difficult marine environments. The systems are aimed at professional and institutional users rather than consumer applications.

• Underwater LiDAR imagingSubsea optical imaging2025

  Following the acquisition of 3D at Depth in 2025, Kraken's portfolio included underwater LiDAR imaging. The technology complements acoustic sonar by using laser-based measurement and imaging for subsea environments and expands the company's range of marine sensing capabilities.

• 2025Acquisition of 3D at DepthM&A

  Kraken sought to expand its subsea-imaging portfolio and its presence in the United States.

  What changed. The company acquired 3D at Depth, an underwater LiDAR imaging business.

  Aftermath. The transaction added underwater LiDAR to Kraken's acoustic-sonar and marine-robotics capabilities.

  Source
• 2017Broadened corporate identity from sonar to roboticsStrategy

  The company had developed activities spanning sonar, sensors, and underwater robotic systems rather than sonar alone.

  What changed. Kraken Sonar Systems Inc. changed its name to Kraken Robotics.

  Aftermath. The new name reflected a broader marine-technology portfolio and positioning in underwater robotics.

  Source

• 2025Kraken Robotics expands into the United States through acquisition of 3D at Depth

  Kraken Robotics acquired 3D at Depth, an underwater LiDAR imaging company, expanding its subsea-imaging capabilities and its operating presence in the United States.

  M&A
  Source
• 2025Kraken Robotics receives $3 million in synthetic aperture sonar orders

  The company announced orders for synthetic aperture sonar systems from customers in Asia-Pacific, Europe, and North America, including the Roger F. Wicker Center for Ocean Enterprise at the University of Southern Mississippi.

  Product launchOther
  Source

1. Kraken Robotics