EXO-01
Our product · Modular nautical exoskeleton
A reversible structure adding solar energy, electric propulsion, stability and scientific capacity to existing hulls — designed to be replicated.
Prototype in development
See the technologyBIUTOPIC
Shared infrastructure
for living systems.
Environmental technology · Nantes
Shared infrastructure for living systems.
Ecological design, engineering and science for the living world.
BIUTOPIC develops accessible mobile aquatic research infrastructure — for research, water monitoring, environmental robotics and citizen science.
- Sea trials completed — Faroe Islands, 2026
- Operational envelope validated in real conditions
- EXO-01 in build — La Mutine workshop, 07/2026
Social and solidarity economy company, ESUS-accredited · Nantes, France
Environmental need
water · biodiversity · pollution
Into the field
HYDRO-01 compact platform 
L'Hydronaute floating laboratory EXO-01 modular retrofit architecture - Observe
- Measure
- Experiment
- Act
- Verify
- Data
- Science
- Action
Better decisions for living systems
↺ and back into the field
- Researchers
- Municipalities
- Associations
- Citizens
What we build
One mission. Many layers.
A single navigation can simultaneously carry a primary research project, BIUTOPIC baseline data, navigation and robotics R&D, biodiversity observations and citizen science — whenever protocols are compatible.
- Primary research project
- BIUTOPIC baseline data
- Navigation & robotics R&D
- Biodiversity observations
- Citizen science
L'Hydronaute
Shared floating laboratory
The shared floating laboratory: a single navigation carries research, baseline data, robotics and citizen science.
Integration and mooring framework in preparation
Subject to the required authorisations.
Discover the boatHYDRO-01
Compact environmental monitoring platform
Compact environmental monitoring platform — autonomous, remotely supervised, tested in real conditions: it extends the laboratory beyond the boat.
Field-tested
Follow the trialsBIUTOPIC
HYDRO‑01 · compact autonomous platforms
HYDRONAUTE · shared floating laboratory
equipped and tested with EXO‑01 · modular retrofit architecture
Method
Observe, measure, experiment, act, verify.
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Observe
Look at the environments as they are — on the water, not on paper.
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Measure
Sensors, sampling, protocols — versioned baseline data.
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Experiment
Test technologies and methods in real conditions.
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Act
Concrete environmental missions, from monitoring to tested intervention.
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Verify
Measure again — no action without verification.
Build with us
What we can build with you.
01
Environmental monitoring
Measurement campaigns and mapping: conductivity, temperature, turbidity, dissolved oxygen, microplastic sampling, sensitive zones.
02
Research platforms
Onboard sensors, equipment deployment, robotics experimentation, protocols co-built with laboratories, open data.
03
Territorial demonstrators
Pilot projects with local authorities, ports, universities and waterway managers.
04
Citizen science & engagement
Workshops, schools, public demonstrations, games and devices that let citizens contribute to research.
- Water quality
- eDNA sampling support
- Microplastics
- Hydroacoustics
- Cyanobacteria
- All services →
Active environmental missions
Observe → Detect → Test → Verify. Flagship example: cyanobacteria — early detection, tested mitigation protocols, verification by measurement. No removal promises: verified results.
Development history HYDRO‑01 demonstrator Hydronaute validation EXO‑01 replication
Scroll to cross
Act I · North Atlantic — HYDRO-01. Deployed and tested in real sea conditions in the Faroe Islands — 2026 North Atlantic campaign.
Act II · The Erdre, Nantes — L'Hydronaute. The first public demonstrator. Solar, electric, in silence.
Act III · Demonstrator — EXO-01. The retrofit exoskeleton platform — intervention, maintenance and environmental operations.
From the Atlantic to the Erdre — a prototype in trials, a demonstrator in Nantes, an exoskeleton for existing hulls.
HYDRO-01 · Field trials North Atlantic campaign — 2026
The prototype is already in the field.
HYDRO-01 was deployed and tested in real sea conditions in the Faroe Islands (2026 North Atlantic campaign): supervised autonomous navigation, communications, energy management, solar integration, environmental and acoustic missions. Each sortie reveals technical limits, produces lessons and feeds the next iterations.
Discover HYDRO-01 — chart & campaign register Technical appendixWhat the field taught us — preliminary learnings, logs being consolidated
Waterproofing
Moisture gets in before water does: cable glands and hatches needed several rework passes after the first sorties.
Communications
One 4G link loss during a mission (recovered via fallback procedure) made dual-link design a priority.
Energy
Cold Faroese water cuts usable capacity and skews state-of-charge estimates — safety margins widened.
Real conditions reveal what simulations cannot.
Roadmap
Demonstrate, operate, standardise, replicate, network.
01 Demonstrate 02 Operate 03 Standardise 04 Replicate 05 Network
Current phase · Demonstrate EXO-01 in build, Hydronaute in preparation.
BIUTOPIC Studio
Useful ideas need to be understood, seen and shared.
BIUTOPIC's internal distribution capacity: documenting missions, explaining complex environmental issues, mobilising the public and giving partners visibility. The Studio turns field operations into public narratives — in service of the cause.
ESS / ESUS mission
Economic activity in service of a social and environmental mission.
BIUTOPIC is an ESS company with ESUS accreditation. Its economic activities, research projects and collaborations serve one mission: extending the life of existing infrastructure, making ecological experimentation more accessible, and creating shared tools to better understand and protect ecosystems.
- Repair and reuse before replacing
- Create measurable environmental utility
- Share infrastructure and knowledge
- Cooperate with researchers, territories, organisations, artists and citizens
- Use technology for real function, not novelty
- Make the mission economically sustainable
- Produce lasting social and ecological value
Aligned with the UN Sustainable Development Goals
BIUTOPIC's research infrastructure and field missions contribute to water monitoring, accessible scientific infrastructure, aquatic and terrestrial biodiversity research, and collaborative environmental science.
Backed by Bpifrance · France Active · Réseau Initiative Nantes · Région Pays de la Loire — France 2030
Who we work with
Who we work with.
Cities, ports & waterway operators
Environmental monitoring, territorial demonstrators, municipal pilots.
Researchers, universities & students
Shared research access: €150 excl. VAT / researcher / day — co-built protocols, open data.
Environmental organisations
Measurement and advocacy tools grounded in real data.
Technology developers
Robotics, energy, sensors — real-condition validation on the platform.
Citizens & the public
Citizen science, workshops, the 3D game, engagement outings.
Right now, on the water
Build a project with BIUTOPIC.
Environmental monitoring, a scientific mission, a territorial demonstrator, public engagement — let’s talk about what your waters need to say.