A US company called Orpheus Ocean is spearheading the development of inexpensive submersibles capable of exploring the seafloor. These compact, agile vehicles could revolutionize deep-sea research and mining by offering a cost-effective alternative to existing options.

The submersibles, built by Orpheus Ocean, are designed to navigate the challenging terrain of the seafloor, which hosts an array of marine life including tiny microbes, worms, snails, and valuable metal deposits.

Orpheus’s vehicles cost around $200,000 each, making them a fraction of the price of existing submersibles that can range from $5 million to $10 million. Unlike their more expensive counterparts, these subs can hop along the seafloor and capture sediment cores, enhancing both scientific exploration and potential mining operations.

The company's founder Jake Russell believes this 'deep for cheap' approach will democratize deep-sea research. Orpheus has already completed two commercial deployments, but upcoming tests with the US NOAA research vessel Rainier could solidify their place in the industry by operating over large ranges for extended periods.

With these submersibles, scientists can explore vast areas of the seafloor that have never been studied in detail. The vehicles are classified as autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs), but with a unique design that allows them to hop and probe the soft seabed, making them highly versatile for various scientific missions.