About Subsea Formula

At Subsea Formula, we are a cohesive team of experts in robotics, electronics, mechanical engineering, mathematics, chemistry, and software development, dedicated to providing state‑of‑the‑art tools for underwater operations.

We offer a personal, considered approach, applying rigorous thinking to find the best solution. Communication is direct with senior experts who plan, oversee and deliver the work, rather than through a soulless, process-led handover.

Subsea Formula has its own facilities and equipment for the manufacture of high‑quality components and tools, and our team also has strong relationships and an extensive network across German manufacturing facilities, forged over years of collaboration.

Equipment

A wide range of machinery and tools is available on site including 3‑axis CNC milling machine, lathes, grinding and drilling machines, CNC plasma cutting system, welding systems, press, tube and pipe benders, guillotine, hyperbaric pressure test chambers, ultrasonic testing equipment and a lot of accompanying tools together with other equipment for thorough flaw detection.

We work with 316/316L stainless steel, titanium grades 2 and 5, nickel‑based alloys, nickel aluminium bronze, and aluminium, selected according to the requirements of each project. Equipment and materials are applied accordingly throughout manufacture and testing.

We have everything needed to manufacture high‑quality ROV parts and tools.

3‑axis CNC milling machine

Lathe for long and/or large-diameter workpieces, standard turning lathe

Bandsaw, press, welding machine

Guillotine, tube and pipe benders, CNC plasma cutting system

Locations

Subsea Formula team is distributed across London, Istanbul and Funchal, Madeira.

Our R&D team and facilities are based in the picturesque city of Funchal on Madeira Island. We are ideally situated to test and develop subsea products in a real‑world environment. Madeira, the summit of a massive volcano rising 6 km from the Atlantic Ocean floor, offers rapidly deepening waters perfect for rigorous product testing.

Team Background

Kirill

Kirill’s track record spans practical robotics, sensing, energy, and medical engineering, with a bias for building rigorously and shipping fast.

RoboArm, a three‑metre, 350 kg teleoperated hand, let children mirror finger motions via a glove and became a showstopper for Volkswagen dealers, Volvo’s heavy machinery division, and major events—ultimately evolving into a commercial attraction.

Mad Chair, a battery‑electric tracked chair for slopes, sand, and shallow water, paired strong low‑speed torque with clutch protection and a joystick controller, proving a robust, crowd‑friendly ride at public activations.

OraculeTang, a speaking animatronic orangutan built in eight weeks—ran reliably in Black Rock Desert’s corrosive dust at Burning Man 2015, while Alien Egg, a flyable ovoid stage prop, used a steel frame, fibreglass shell, aluminium manipulators, and compact adjustable clutches so a performer could shape kaleidoscopic mirror effects and hold them precisely during a safe, repeatable lift.

In energy, a palm‑sized flywheel prototype demonstrated spin‑up and power return with available materials and electronics, earning a gold medal at the Archimedes innovation fair before being paused pending scale‑up investment and a clear route to market. In navigation, a multi‑channel, multi‑constellation GNSS receiver progressed from bench builds to a custom baseband processor, with a host‑side interface exposing live channel and signal diagnostics.

Spaceflight training work includes an orbital docking simulator for the Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center, combining real‑time dynamics, 3D visuals, virtual instruments, and centrifuge integration to reproduce g‑loads for manual approach practice.

In healthcare, the Medical Nanofilter Plant defined an automated line to make low‑cost respiratory filters that preserve humidity, block microbes, and partially scrub CO₂—an approach positively assessed in a naval medical setting—while a clinic‑commissioned, mammography‑guided sampling probe delivered a complete device architecture and operator test interface.

This breadth—teleoperation, power and control, harsh‑environment reliability, and human‑centred interfaces—underpins how our team now designs, powers, and safeguards underwater systems.

Yury

Previously, Yury successfully led Unmanned Aerial Systems (robotic) implementation in high-profile projects for UK, US, EU, and worldwide customers, managing every stage from initial scoping to field operations. He handled business development, stakeholder collaboration, solution architecture, technical implementation oversight, integration with third-party systems, and ensured full regulatory compliance.

Yury led the company’s participation in the Future Flight Challenge projects, a UK programme that aims to position the UK as a leader in next-generation aviation, focusing on autonomous, electric, and hydrogen-powered air mobility solutions. The company’s role was as UAS manufacturer, integrator, and operator, integrating partners’ technologies into UAS hardware and software.

Some projects include:

• The BLUEPRINT project featured a live demonstration of the cooperative Detect and Avoid (DAA) solution at Cranfield Airport, showcasing DAA capabilities, a cloud GCS application, a ground sensor network for situational awareness, and UTM system integration for real-time mission tracking and approvals to more than 100 attendees, including CAA representatives.

• The ALIAS project brought together eight leading technology companies to demonstrate a scalable and cohesive airspace system with drones, air taxis, and crewed aircraft operating in unison, culminating in the deployment of the ALIAS system in the Channel Islands.

• A data collection system to assess 5G network quality at Glasgow Airport as part of the CAELUS project. This project involved managing complex stakeholder relationships with AGS Airports, NATS, the University of Strathclyde, and network equipment providers, and night-time airside operations (in March, in Glasgow, sometimes with almost horizontal rain).

• Integration of a novel navigation system with UAS, Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS) operations, and flight testing without regular GNSS.

Before his robotics projects, Yury led a bespoke software development agency, working on high-profile projects for major retailers, manufacturers, insurance companies, and banks, and led projects in telecoms and with system integrators.

Robert

Robert has over 23 years of experience in machining and engine engineering. His early work focused on engine parts for racing engines, followed by producing components for specialist applications such as aerodynamic parts for drones and wings for wind farms.

Robert has developed:

• Drivetrains and braking systems for teams participating in events like the 24 Hours of Nürburgring. These braking systems needed to be lightweight yet highly effective, robust and thermodynamically efficient to maintain durability during prolonged continuous operation without overheating.
• High-powered drag-racing engines, including a notable 2.0-litre engine producing up to 850 horsepower, a remarkable power‑density achievement that required balancing extreme short‑duration outputs (drag racing) against long-term durability.
• High-pressure fuel injection systems for petrol engines, with injection pressures reaching 200 bar, selecting and integrating the appropriate pumps, injectors and related components to achieve optimal fuel delivery.
• Two-stage intake manifolds for high-pressure turbocharged engines, featuring electric actuators controlling internal components to optimise torque output.

Robert has hands-on experience programming engine control units (ECUs), including wiring harnesses and full engine builds. Notably, he also has experience with alcohol‑fuelled engines.

Robert demonstrates high proficiency in CNC machining, able to construct and mill complex parts. He has extensive experience working with Grade 5 titanium, noted as a particularly challenging yet strong material. He is proficient in machining stainless steel, nickel alloys, bronze and other common CNC materials, though titanium remains the standout due to its difficulty and mechanical properties. He is skilled in TIG welding of stainless steel (inox), aluminium and steel, and performing post‑weld machining.

Over his career, has implemented complex projects from initial design and calculations through prototyping to small‑batch production. He is capable of performing finite element analysis (FEA) and preparing full documentation. Robert enjoys seeing a designed part materialise and function, whether it moves or remains static, and relishes problem‑solving throughout the project lifecycle.

Julia

Julia led the preparation and sale of a 150 MW gas-fired power plant, overseeing documentation management and stakeholder relationships. Also Julia has a proven and distinguished record in yacht sales.

We warmly welcome clients to visit and experience the natural beauty of Madeira, with its comfortable climate, clean sea air, and stunning views of the mountains and the open ocean. Many choose to extend their stay, and we are delighted to organise personalised tours to showcase the island’s hidden gems, far from the typical tourist paths.

Explore the future of subsea technology with us in one of the world’s most beautiful and dynamic testing grounds.