Hybrid Wave- and Solar-Propelled Unmanned Ocean Robot
The Wave Glider SV3, developed by Sunnyvale, CA-based company Liquid Robotics, is an unmanned ocean robot with a hybrid power and propulsion system that uses both wave-powered and stored solar energy to navigate challenging ocean conditions. It features real-time onboard processing of large data sets, a flexible power and storage system, and an adaptable operating system designed for intelligent autonomy to enable coordinated fleet operations. It can support 12 installed payload sensors, and WiFi and cellular modem communication are available. Operating individually or in fleets, the wave glider enables around-the-clock, all-weather operations at a lower daily cost than many data collection alternatives. An auxiliary vectored thruster is used for extra speed to address difficult ocean conditions, or to quickly accommodate changes in mission operations.