FAQ

No licence or piloting certification is required for the equipment. Some familiarisation is still necessary: the supplied quick start guide covers the first deployment, and we recommend a first dive in calm, shallow water to get used to the controls.

The operator remains responsible for complying with site regulations: regulated port areas, military zones, protected marine areas, nature reserves, shipping lanes. In port areas, authorisation from the port authority is required. Always check local rules before any deployment — this point is detailed in the supplied safety datasheet.

Yes. The system fits in its bag, the tether stays wound on the reel, and the thrusters fold away by hand. Deployment, piloting, video capture and recovery can all be handled by a single operator, with no dedicated team or lifting equipment required. This is one of BentiX's key advantages for technical departments, SMEs and independent operators.

The universal mount under the drone accepts the BentiX Light underwater LED, the BentiX Grip 3-in-1 robotic gripper, or a compatible action camera. Each module attaches with two hand-tightened thumbscrews.

Only one module at a time: the mount takes either the light or the gripper, never both together. Swapping is done on dry land, between dives. After every configuration change, readjust the ballast according to the values given in the user manual.

Accessories can be added at any time after purchase, via the Explorer Kit.

Yes. BentiX can be deployed from a quay, the shore or a boat. Its compact format and tether reel make deployment and recovery easy from any access point. Inform the skipper before any deployment and keep the tether clear of propellers, jets and hull edges.

The batteries are sealed in their device: 99.16 Wh for the drone, 25.9 Wh for the remote control. They remain below the 100 Wh threshold beyond which prior airline approval is required, and the equipment travels as equipment containing lithium batteries.

Policies vary from carrier to carrier: check with yours before departure, and opt for carry-on luggage. The UN 38.3 battery test report is available upon request if your airline or customs requires it.

30 meters. The drone is IP68 waterproof and comes with a 30m tether, a length that matches its operating depth. The light and gripper are limited to the same depth.

The pressure protection cap, included, screws on by hand around the drone's switch. It must be installed before each immersion, regardless of the planned depth.

Full HD 1080p at 30 frames/second (.MP4, H.264 codec) and .JPG photos, via a Sony 1/2.9″ CMOS sensor with a 133° low-distortion field of view.

Files are saved to 22 GB of internal memory or to the included 32 GB SD card, inserted under the remote control. To retrieve them, remove the card and read it on a computer or any compatible device. Formats and resolutions cannot be changed from the remote control.

Approximately 3 hours for both the drone and the remote control, depending on current, flight style, and motor demand. Recharge time is approximately 2 hours for both, using the provided chargers.

The BentiX Light has its own battery, rechargeable via USB-C, with an autonomy of about 10 hours: it covers several drone outings.

Yes: sea, river, lake, basin or hydraulic structure. The structure is printed in epoxy-coated PETG, the screws are stainless steel and the connectors are watertight and lockable. Operating range: 0 °C to 40 °C.

The ballast is adjusted according to the density of the water — the instructions indicate the configuration to be applied. Rinsing with fresh water after each use at sea significantly extends the life of the equipment.

Its 4 brushless motors in a vectored configuration allow for on-the-spot rotations and heading hold in moderate currents, including near structures or in confined spaces – for sharp images and usable data.

However, use is not recommended in strong currents, high waves, or zero visibility. In these conditions, postpone the mission.

Compliance tests — electromagnetic compatibility (Directive 2014/30/EU) and RoHS (Directive 2011/65/EU) — have been completed. The technical file is being finalized before market launch. No BentiX will be delivered without CE marking or an EU declaration of conformity, which will be provided with each device.

The system comes with and is qualified for a 30m cable, which corresponds to the drone's maximum operating depth. We do not offer extension cables: beyond this length, cable drag degrades maneuverability and battery life.

In the event of a link loss, the drone automatically switches to a safe state: motors off, lights off, recording stopped, gripper frozen until the potentiometer is re-centered.

The drone is factory-set with slight positive buoyancy: in the event of a power cut, it will slowly rise rather than sink. This setting is then the responsibility of the operator, who must readjust the weights with each configuration change according to the values in the manual.

In all cases, the umbilical ensures a mechanical link with the drone: manual retrieval remains possible by pulling steadily on the cable, without jerking and without ever pulling on the connectors.

The battery is sealed in the waterproof casing and recharges via an external connector: this is what allows the IP68 waterproof rating to be maintained without an opening point on the chassis. Its replacement is carried out in an after-sales service workshop in France, as part of a maintenance operation, upon quotation.

BentiX is a visual inspection tool: it records timestamped photos and videos that can be used in a report. It does not include sonar, positioning sensors, or dimensional measurement instruments.

By quote, with payment by bank transfer after invoice issuance, according to public accounting payment terms.

The quote is nominative and includes the information required for public expenditure commitment: SIRET, contact details, detailed description, delivery time, and validity period. We provide all necessary documents for payment upon request: bank details (RIB), URSSAF vigilance certificate, compliant invoice.

Yes, and without a consultation procedure. At a net price of €1,490, BentiX is well below the threshold for exemption from prior advertising and competitive bidding, which was raised to €60,000 excluding tax for supply and service contracts as of April 1, 2026 (Article R2122-8 of the Public Procurement Code). The purchase can be made directly from a quote.

The buyer remains, of course, obliged to choose a relevant offer and to make good use of public funds.

Yes, in two forms. The presentation video conference—getting started, video feedback, accessory assembly, live questions—is usually organized within a few days. On-site demonstrations are organized on a case-by-case basis, depending on the geographical area and the nature of the project.

The information to be sent to us to prepare a useful demonstration is detailed on our Contact page.

The drone's structure is entirely 3D printed in our workshop using epoxy-coated PETG – a technical polymer resistant to saltwater. This choice allows for geometries difficult to achieve with traditional machining, enables production in France, and facilitates rapid design iteration.

Most importantly, it makes the drone repairable: a broken part is reprinted, not ordered from the other side of the world. Each batch of material is qualified and traceable to the drone's serial number.

Certain parts are designed to be removed and replaced by the user: complete motor blocks, ballast compartments, and claw tips. They are available on request from technical support, upon quotation.

The motor block is changed as a single unit — support, motor, and propeller — without opening the drone or affecting its watertightness. Any other intervention, or the installation of parts printed by you, falls outside the scope of the warranty: you can continue to order original parts, but any resulting damage would no longer be covered.

BentiX Essential — €1,490: drone, remote control, reel and 30m cable, 32GB SD card, carrying bags, chargers, weights, pressure protection cap, tools, and documentation.

BentiX Explorer — €2,090: the same set, supplemented by the BentiX Light LED lamp and the BentiX Grip 3-in-1 robotic gripper.

Explorer Kit — €790: the lamp and gripper only, for owners of an Essential.

Net prices, VAT not included.

The difference lies in the second year of use. BentiX is designed to be maintained and repaired: spare parts available, structural parts re-printable, after-sales service workshop in France, response within 48 working hours, one-year commercial warranty valid in the European Union, comprehensive documentation in French.

You are buying a durable, maintainable work tool, not a device to be replaced.

No. BentiX operates under the VAT exemption scheme: the displayed price is the price paid, with no VAT to be added. Our invoices state "VAT not applicable, article 293 B of the CGI." Therefore, business and public sector customers cannot recover VAT on this purchase—the amount invoiced exactly matches the displayed price.

Shipping within 3 to 10 working days after ordering, from our workshop in France, to mainland France and the European Union.

For deliveries outside mainland France or outside the European Union, please contact us before ordering: lithium batteries are subject to specific transport regulations that determine the shipping method and delivery time.

For a distance purchase made by a consumer, you have a 14-day right of withdrawal from the date of receipt, without having to give any reason for your decision (Article L221-18 of the Consumer Code). The product must be returned complete and in its original condition.

For professional purchases, this right does not apply in principle. However, it may be available in certain situations provided for by Article L221-3 of the Consumer Code. If you are unsure about your case, please write to us before ordering.

One-year commercial warranty, parts and labor, valid in the European Union. This warranty is in addition to—and does not replace—the legal warranty of conformity (articles L.217-3 et seq. of the French Consumer Code) and the warranty against hidden defects (articles 1641 et seq. of the French Civil Code). After-sales service workshop in France, response within 48 working hours.

Stop the mission as soon as an abnormal sign appears — unusual noise, signal loss, vibration, internal fogging or suspected infiltration — and do not re-immerse the system before diagnosis.

Contact support at support@bentixrobotics.com with a precise description of the problem and, if possible, photos. Response within 48 business hours, from France. We will guide you step by step.

The cable is the mechanical link to the drone: it allows for manual retrieval even in the event of power or signal loss. Pull the cable gently and steadily, without jerking, and grasp the drone by its handle. Never pull on the connectors.

If the drone is snagged, do not force it: release the tension and change the pulling angle. The carabiner connecting the cable to the chassis is designed for this effort.

Spare parts – engine blocks, ballast compartments, gripper tips, connectors, screws, structural parts – are available on request from technical support for 2 years after purchase.

Our After-Sales Service workshop is based in France. If a breakdown requires a return, we will provide you with the shipping procedure and handle the repair and return from our French site. The complete procedure is detailed on our Support & Documentation page.