The first environmentally-powered sea glider was successfully flown through water by the researchers from the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (WHOI) and Webb Research Corporation in Falmouth, Mass.
The new robotic thermal sea glider gets heat energy from the ocean to propel itself across the water. It can carry various sensors to collect measurements such as temperature and salinity. It also operates quietly, which is ideal for acoustic studies.
The underwater vehicle was the first to traverse great distances across the ocean using green energy. Most of the gliders used battery-powered motors and mechanical pumps.
This project is part of a bigger plan of launching a fleet of sea gliders in the North Atlantic, a crucial area in determining the response of the ocean to climate change.