A new generation of ocean-sensing drones is being designed to operate at the most extreme depths of the sea, according to an Engadget report. The craft are intended to endure crushing pressure far below the surface, opening up vast areas of the ocean that have remained largely out of reach.
The report says these drones could cover as much as 98 percent of the world's oceans by 2028. That would mark a significant expansion in the ability to gather data from the deep, potentially aiding research into climate, marine life, and underwater geology.
Because the information comes from a single source, the timeline and capability claims should be treated as one data point rather than a settled forecast. Engadget does not cite additional corroborating reports, so the exact specifications and deployment schedule remain unclear.
Still, the prospect of near-global ocean coverage within a few years highlights how drone technology is pushing into environments that have long been inaccessible to conventional vessels.