POWERING AN OCEAN OF DATA: SIMPLEXITY AND OCEAN MOTION TECHNOLOGIES PARTNER ON WAVE ENERGY INNOVATION
Turning Ocean Motion into Reliable Power for Ocean Sensing
Ocean Motion Technologies is developing next-generation wave-powered systems designed to provide reliable energy for ocean monitoring systems. To help accelerate development, they engaged Simplexity as an engineering partner to support key aspects of the design and integration effort.
Together, the collaboration sets out with a shared goal: transform the natural motion of the ocean into a practical, scalable power source for offshore sensing – to increase power output and lower maintenance frequency.
A Collaborative Approach to a Complex Challenge
Wave energy is abundant but technically challenging to harness. Ocean Motion Technologies had a clear vision for how their wave energy converter should perform in harsh sea conditions and how it would support a new class of autonomous ocean platforms. Simplexity joined the project as a collaborative development partner, contributing:
- Systems engineering support to help align performance goals, environmental realities, and power needs for the buoy system as a whole.
- Mechanical design expertise to support Ocean Motion’s efforts in obtaining manufacturable components suitable for repeated deployment in a demanding offshore environment.
Rather than a traditional “handoff,” the work was highly interactive. The teams met regularly to share assumptions, review tradeoffs, and make collaborative decisions. Ocean Motion’s oceanography and product design, combined with Simplexity’s experience in complex electro-mechanical systems, created a complementary partnership from early concept refinement through prototyping.
Five gearboxes on the bench at Ocean Motion’s Hardware Lab
From Design to Hardware in the Water
With a shared architecture defined, the focus shifted to turning early-stage systems into commercial hardware. Simplexity supported Ocean Motion Technologies through:
- Refining key powertrain components to align with expected wave conditions and energy capture goals.
- Detailing critical mechanical assemblies with an eye toward reliability, serviceability, and long-term operation in corrosive, high-load marine environments.
- Supporting prototype build and integration, collaborating with Ocean Motion’s team and trusted suppliers to move efficiently from CAD to hardware.
Throughout the process, Simplexity emphasized clear communication and responsiveness -- meeting when decisions were needed, providing concise updates in between, and ensuring Ocean Motion’s engineering team remained deeply involved in every milestone. The result of this collaboration was a set of wave-powered buoy prototypes ready for real-world testing at sea.
Ocean Motion gearboxes being installed on buoy, in preparation for deployment
Successful Ocean Trials and a Path Forward
Once integrated into Ocean Motion’s buoy platform, the new hardware underwent testing and ocean trials. These deployments validated that the system could convert wave motion into electrical power in real conditions and support the broader mission of enabling persistent ocean sensing without frequent human intervention.
The success of these initial deployments marked an important step for Ocean Motion Technologies on their journey toward reliable, scalable wave energy systems for ocean data and observation. For Simplexity, the project showcased the impact of partnering closely with visionary clients -- especially in emerging markets like the blue economy, where innovation at the synergy of hardware, software, and the environment is essential.
Ocean Motion Field Deployment
Advancing the Future of Ocean Energy
As the demand for ocean data grows, from environmental science and fisheries management to offshore operations and environmental monitoring, so does the need for robust power solutions at sea.
By teaming up, Ocean Motion Technologies and Simplexity demonstrated how collaborative engineering partnerships can help:
- Accelerate innovation in a complex, emerging technology space
- Reduce risk through thoughtful collaboration and iterative development
- Lay groundwork for future generations of ocean data platforms
Simplexity is proud to have contributed to Ocean Motion Technologies’ mission to unlock the ocean as a reliable source of energy and information and looks forward to supporting their continued efforts that push the boundaries of what’s possible in ocean technology.
Software: Design Complete
Hardware: Pre-production units for design verification
MFG. Readiness: CM schedule and budget, Unit build tracking