International Submarine Engineering Ltd.
Canadian AUV and ROV maker founded 1974; delivers the Explorer and Theseus AUV lines to naval, oceanographic, and oil-and-gas customers in over 20 countries.
International Submarine Engineering Ltd. (ISE) was founded in August 1974 by Dr. James R. McFarlane and is headquartered in Port Coquitlam, British Columbia, Canada. ISE designs and manufactures advanced unmanned underwater systems including autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs), remotely operated vehicles (ROVs), submersibles, semi-submersibles, and mine countermeasure systems.
The company's flagship product families include the Theseus AUV — originally developed for the Canadian Department of National Defence to lay fibre-optic cable under Arctic ice — and the Explorer Class AUVs, which are modular and deployed globally for ocean survey and defense missions. ISE has delivered over 240 underwater vehicles and 400 robotic manipulators to customers in more than 20 countries. The company serves naval defense, oceanographic science, and offshore energy sectors.
ISE is also active in terrestrial robotics and provides integrated system engineering services.
Primary type & automation activities this supplier delivers:
Explorer AUV
ISE's modular autonomous underwater vehicle family for ocean survey, defense, and environmental monitoring missions.
Theseus AUV
Large-class AUV developed for Canadian DND for under-ice Arctic cable-laying; set AUV endurance record of over 60 hours submerged.
Contact International Submarine Engineering Ltd.
WEBSITE
https://ise.bc.caPHONE
+1 604-942-5223HEADQUARTERS
Canada
Company Facts
Founded
1974
Primary Role
Manufacturer
Company Size
-
Primary Region
North America
Annual Sales
-
Funding Stage
-
Funding Total
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Modular Self-Reconfigurable Robots Adapt to Various Tasks with MSRCR Technology
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Modular Robotics Self-Reconfigurable Robots Robotic Algorithms Bionic Robotics
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Labor Relations Automation Technology Coffee Industry AI Integration
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Ultrasound Robotics Rheumatoid Arthritis AI in Healthcare Medical Technology
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AI Robotics Open Source Reinforcement Learning Physical AI Robotics Development
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Service Robots AI Solutions Robotics Commercial Automation
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AI Robotics Model Hardware Standard Scientific Research Automation Technology
ROSS Harness Secures Third Place in World Humanoid Robot Competition for Industrial Tasks
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Embodied Intelligence Industrial Robotics Automation Technology Robot Competitions
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China Cobot Arms Collaborative Robots Investments News JAKA Robotics
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ITIL Foundation: ITIL 4 Edition PeopleCert — RSF Top 10 Robot Education Textbooks · No. 2
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FUTURE WARFARE | Sea - Autonomous Surface Vessels & Unmanned Underwater Vehicles — The Hybrid Fleet Takes Shape
Ukraine’s ‘Sub Sea Baby’ autonomous torpedo struck a Russian Kilo-class submarine inside Novorossiysk harbour in December 2025 — the first confirmed underwater drone attack on a submarine in history. The U.S. Navy is requesting $5.3 billion for unmanned maritime systems in FY2026, a 70 percent year-on-year increase. Saronic Technologies went from prototype to $392 million production contract in under 12 months. And DARPA’s Manta Ray XL-UUV completed full-scale sea trials. This article maps the maritime autonomous systems revolution — from Ukraine’s improvised Black Sea fleet to the Pentagon’s hybrid manned–unmanned force of the 2030s, and from Saronic’s Franklin, Louisiana shipyard to Boeing’s 85-tonne robot submarine.