Version 1 was our proof-of-concept platform — built to validate stability, thrust control, and neutral buoyancy in real underwater conditions.

We engineered an eight-thruster configuration with four fixed vertical thrusters for depth control and four movable nozzle thrusters for directional precision. Instead of relying on added ballast, we achieved neutral buoyancy through structural optimization and intelligent internal mass distribution.

The structure combined CNC-machined aluminum base plates with lightweight 3D-printed components, housing a sealed electronics chamber and a custom high-capacity lithium battery pack. Designed for operations up to 100 meters depth, Version 1 underwent structural pressure analysis and CFD-based drag simulations to understand hydrodynamic resistance in both forward and downward motion.

Field testing revealed how rapidly drag scales with velocity and how projected area impacts vertical movement efficiency. These insights exposed power inefficiencies, turbulence effects, and structural bulk limitations — giving us clear direction for refinement.

Version 1 wasn’t optimized. It was built to learn — and it gave us real engineering data instead of assumptions.