Witnesses tout open‑source Bristle Mouth standard and sensor networks to scale ocean data

Tim Janssen, co‑founder and CEO of Sofar Ocean, told the House Science, Space, and Technology Subcommittee on Environment that open‑source hardware and software standards — which he referred to as Bristle Mouth — are critical to scaling ocean sensing and enabling ocean artificial intelligence.

"Bristle Mouth is exactly that," Janssen said, describing it as a plug‑and‑play standard for marine sensors that he compared to the role USB played for consumer electronics. He said the decision to open‑source the platform required funding from philanthropy and government partners, and that adoption unlocks broader access to sensor networks.

Sofar operates a large private sensor network and runs Wayfinder, a routing product Janssen called “Google Maps for large commercial ships,” which he said improves safety and efficiency. He described three policy recommendations for Congress: reauthorize the Weather Act (to maintain programs such as the National Mesonet), prioritize foundational technologies through NOAA and other agencies, and streamline procurement to favor flexible, milestone‑based contracting.

Janssen described deployments of Bristle Mouth–compatible buoy and mooring systems in Alaska and the Arctic through partnerships with the National Science Foundation and the U.S. Ice Center, saying the systems have operated through winter and can host low‑power, AI‑enabled hydrophones and water‑level sensors for long‑dwell monitoring. “You can then over the air update the firmware on that subsurface sensor, without touching anything else in the other system,” Janssen said, noting the importance of low power consumption to enable persistent stations in remote regions.

Panelists underscored operational value for weather and extreme events: Dr. Margaret Leinen of Scripps said expanded Argo and deep Argo arrays and gliders improve forecasting for hurricanes, atmospheric rivers and coastal hazards by measuring heat content below the surface — a key factor in storm intensity. Representatives also discussed how real‑time ocean data complements aircraft reconnaissance in hurricanes and supports storm surge and flood forecasting.

Industry witnesses emphasized the commercial benefits of scale. Shepherd Smith of Xocean described his firm’s operational model — retaining and operating USVs rather than selling vehicles — to maintain high utilization and reliability across jurisdictions. He said Xocean plans more than 2,500 days at sea this year and is building additional USVs to scale operations.

Several members pressed for procurement reform to help smaller companies work with federal agencies. Janssen argued that milestone‑based contracts and simpler solicitation processes would encourage start‑ups to engage with government programs and de‑risk commercialization.