Liquid Robotics: Wave Gliders
PacX Mission
On November 17th, at San Francisco's St. Francis Yacht Club, Liquid Robotics launched four Wave Gliders on a record-setting journey across the Pacific Ocean - the longest distance ever attempted by an unmanned ocean vehicle.
The purpose of this unprecedented Pacific crossing is to foster new scientific discoveries in ocean science by making available vast amounts of ocean data collected and transmitted globally during the Wave Gliders' yearlong journey. The four Wave Gliders are expected to collect approximately 2.25 million discrete data points, and take more than 300 days to complete their voyage. During their voyage, they will transmit valuable ocean data on salinity, water temperature, waves, weather, fluorescence, and dissolved oxygen.
During their 33,000 nautical mile journey, the Wave Gliders will travel across some of the world's most challenging environments. The Wave Gliders will begin their journey together to Hawaii, and then split into pairs, one pair continuing to Japan (over the Mariana Trench, where Virgin Oceanic will complete the first of its Five Deep Dives) and the other pair to Australia.
When they reach their final destinations, the Wave Gliders will have earned a Guinness World Record for the longest voyage completed by an unmanned ocean vessel.
Current position of gliders in Google Earth: Download latest kmz file
Wave Gliders: Technical Concept
Wave Gliders are able to travel long distances (2500+ miles), hold station, and monitor vast areas without ever needing to refuel by continuously harvesting wave energy from the environment. A unique two-part architecture and wing system directly converts wave motion into thrust, and solar panels provide electricity for sensor payloads. This means that Wave Gliders can travel to a distant area, collect data, and return for maintenance without ever requiring a ship to leave port.
The Wave Glider is a configurable platform designed to support a wide variety of sensor payloads. Data is transmitted to shore via satellite, and the continuous surface presence means that data can be delivered as it is collected.
Wave Gliders: Sensors on board
The following sensors are installed on all four Wave Gliders. The sampling interval for all sensors is 10 minutes.
- Seabird GPCTD with Dissolved Oxygen Sensor - measures water conductivity, temperature, depth, and dissolved oxygen just below the float of the Wave Glider.
- Datawell MOSE-G Directional Wave Sensor - measures significant wave height, average period, peak period, and peak direction.
- Airmar PB200 WeatherStation - measures air temperature, barometric pressure, wind speed, wind gust speed, and wind direction one meter above the deck of the Wave Glider.
- Turner Designs C3 Submersible Fluorometer - measures chlorophyll-A and crude oil fluorescence, as well as turbidity and water temperature just below the float of the Wave Glider.
All information and images provided by Liquid Robotics