Unmanned underwater vehicles (UUVs) are deployed to conduct tasks, such as measuring oceanographic data, capturing bottom images, bathymetric imaging, collecting intelligence, obtaining intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) data, cable laying, and mine detecting. The size of unmanned underwater vehicles (UUVs) varies from small to large depending on various factors, such as their capabilities, dimensions, power, speed, and sensors. Unmanned underwater vehicles (UUVs) are broadly classified into remotely operated vehicles (ROVs) and autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs). Remotely operated vehicles (ROVs) are tethered underwater vehicles that transmit power, and command and control signals, and feed the data back into the consoles of the operators on the ships. Remotely operated vehicles (ROVs) possess limited navigation capacities and are used to carry out ocean exploration activities. They are also used to ensure the security of ports. Unmanned underwater vehicles (UUVs) can be divided into eyeball class remotely operated vehicles (ROVs) and work class remotely operated vehicles (ROVs). Eyeball class remotely operated vehicles (ROVs) comprise small or mini remotely operated vehicles (ROVs) that are used for carrying out observation, scientific exploration, inspection, and rescue activities. Work class remotely operated vehicles (ROVs) are large and heavy and are capable of deploying and lifting large equipment and samples required for studying oceans. Remotely operated vehicles (ROVs) are used for the underwater burying of cables and trenching.

The Unmanned underwater vehicles vendors are placed into 4 categories based on their performance and reviews in each criterion: “visionary leaders,” “innovators,” “dynamic differentiators,” and “emerging companies".

The companies that fall under this category generally receive high scores for most of the evaluation criteria. They have a well-established product portfolio and a very strong market presence. They offer mature and reputable products and services and have strong business strategies.

Dynamic differentiators are the established vendors of radar simulators with strong business strategies. However, they have weaker product portfolios as compared to their competitors. They generally focus on a specific type of technology related to a particular product.

Innovators are the vendors that have demonstrated substantial product innovations as compared to their competitors. They have an extensive product portfolio. However, they do not have very strong growth strategies for their overall business.

Vendors with niche product offerings, who have started to gain their foothold in the radar simulator market, fall under this category. They do not have strong business strategies as compared to other established vendors. They might be new entrants in the market and require some time before gaining significant traction in the market. The limited supply of oil & gas across the globe has caused all the major countries to undertake various offshore drilling activities to discover new oil & gas reserves. Thus, the discoveries of new oil & gas reserves are expected to fuel the growth of the oil & gas industry across the globe, which, in turn, is expected to increase the global demand for remotely operated vehicles (ROVs). The survey & seabed mapping includes survey data evaluation, ocean topographic surveys, shallow water analysis, bathymetry, and sub-bottom profiling of seabed. These surveys are carried out by remotely operated vehicles (ROVs) to provide highly accurate and precise seabed and sub-seabed data. Pipeline/cabling/inspection applications are carried out by using remotely operated vehicles (ROVs). These remotely operated vehicles (ROVs) provide live video feeds and locations of the infrastructures under inspection. The important application of remotely operated vehicles (ROVs) for scientific research is seabed imaging, which is done by using advanced sonar systems. The study of ultra-deep waters and ocean beds is expected to drive the growth of the oceanographic studies subsegment of the scientific research segment of the remotely operated vehicle market during the forecast period. Environmental monitoring by using remotely operated vehicles (ROVs) includes oceanographic studies, metocean, marine life studies, and fishery and environmental research. Remotely operated vehicles (ROVs) are successfully being used to study ocean garbage and mapping the debris on sea beds. This, in turn, has fueled the procurements of remotely operated vehicles (ROVs) for scientific research platforms. The military applications of various unmanned systems initiated the development of technology for unmanned underwater vehicles (UUVs). Earlier, remotely operated vehicles (ROVs) were used mainly for undersea surveillance and rescue of lost devices and weapons. Presently, the operational capabilities of remotely operated vehicles (ROVs) have increased. However, these capabilities are comparatively expensive for military applications and, therefore, remotely operated vehicles (ROVs) are not widely accepted.