Liquid Robotics®, the leader in long-duration, unmanned ocean robots,
announced that a Wave Glider® swam 2,808 nautical miles (5200 km)
to the Big Island of Hawaii after successfully completing a 4-month
patrol mission of the Pitcairn Island Marine Sanctuary for the UK Foreign
& Commonwealth Office (FCO). This achievement represents a fundamental
enabling capability for unmanned systems as it proves the feasibility
and flexibility of autonomous mission deployment. Using the Wave Glider
platform, Liquid Robotics’ customers are able to deploy sensors
in the most remote marine locations without sending a large ship for
recovery. This opens up large expanses of the ocean that once were previously
inaccessible due to the high cost and risk of deploying manned vessels
for research, commerce, or defense. |
The Wave
Glider began its mission on November 27, 2015 in the South Pacific,
where it helped the UK FCO protect the Pitcairn Island Marine Sanctuary
against illegal fishing activities. After successfully completing its
mission, the Wave Glider was remotely piloted more than 2,808 nautical
miles (5200 km) — through strong equatorial currents, doldrums,
and challenging sea states — back to port in Hawaii. Along the
way, it collected 9,516 measurements of meteorological, oceanographic,
and marine biodiversity data over expanses rarely traveled. This data
was recently used to support the worldwide Fishackathon, a program sponsored
by the U.S. Department of State to promote innovative ways to stop illegal
and unregulated fishing. Altogether, the Wave Glider was continuously
at sea, untouched, for 213 days while traveling a total of 7,205 nautical
miles (13,344 km). |