MRRPhysical AI
intelligence
← Company intelligence

Robot maker · early

Gander Robotics

Corporate marketmarinesecurityCurated record
ganderrobotics.com

Gander Robotics develops the Autonomous Rescue Swimmer (ARS), a hand-deployable autonomous maritime vehicle designed to address the man-overboard crisis aboard naval vessels and commercial ships. The ARS uses AI-powered sonar to locate victims in low-visibility and rough-water conditions, then auto-deploys inflatable flotation, high-visibility flare signaling, and an RF transmitter to guide recovery teams to both the device and victim. The system targets U.S. Navy, Coast Guard, and cruise line operators, where maritime MOB survival rates fall as low as 17%. Founded by a Navy veteran ocean engineer and robotics engineer from MIT Sloan, Gander takes a defense-first, dual-use commercial strategy.

HeadquartersCambridge, US
Founded2025
Corporate funding$1M
Team1-10
Deployments0
Open roles0
01

Company overview

Identity and operating footprint

Company typeRobot maker
Market segmentCorporate
StagePre-seed
FoundersMichael Autery (CEO), Lael Ayala (Co-Founder, Robotics Engineer)
Regions servedUS
Countries deployedNot listed
Service footprintNot listed
Last reviewed2026-07-05
MX

Robot models

Specifications remain vendor-claimed

Machinemarine

Autonomous Rescue Swimmer (ARS)

  • Uses AI-powered sonar to locate man-overboard victims in low-visibility and rough-water conditions; deploys auto-inflating flotation, high-visibility flare, and RF transmitter on contact

    Hand-tossed autonomous maritime rescue vehicle for man-overboard response

    Claim source
CA

Funding history

Publicly announced rounds

Investors on recordImpellent VenturesUnderscore VC
TL

Company timeline

Milestones and announcements

2026-04-02Closed $1.1M pre-seed round co-led by Impellent Ventures and Underscore VC for continued prototype development and defense/commercial maritime operator engagementsThe AI Insider
SC

Source ledger

2 unique public sources

01
Gander Robotics Closes $1.1M Pre-Seed Round to Build Autonomous Search and Rescue RobotsThe AI Insider · retrieved 2026-07-05
02
Gander Robotics Gains Pre-Seed Funding for Autonomous Search and Rescue RobotsMarine Link · retrieved 2026-07-05