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Underwater Robot to Re-Cross Gulf Stream

Posted by Zonk on from the who-doesn't-like-a-good-robo-ray? dept.

karvind writes "PhysOrg is running story about a small autonomous underwater vehicle, or AUV, named Spray which was launched yesterday (March 25, 2005) about 12 miles southeast of Bermuda. The two-meter-(6-foot)-long orange glider with a four-foot wingspan will slowly make its way northwest, crossing the Gulf Stream and reaching the continental shelf on the other side before turning around and heading back to Bermuda, where it will be recovered in July. Spray made history last fall as the first AUV to cross the Gulf Stream, but this time it is making the trip from the other direction."

3 of 88 comments (clear)

  1. Daydreaming... by FrostedWheat · · Score: 5, Interesting

    I've often wondered how difficult it would be to build something like this that is solar powered (stays on the surface), has small simple engines, GPS and a satellite radio to call home every day or so. It would be slow but if nothing breaks it could in theory cross huge distances.

    Would make a great competition! £20k for the first to cross the Atlantic from Newfoundland to Ireland!

  2. Re:How autonomous is it really? by OctaneZ · · Score: 3, Interesting
    If they can change its course and affect its navigation, will they?

    Frankly, yes, we are very interested in specific features of the stream, especially the edges and fronts. We may not "mess with it" every 8 hours, but we do steer it toward interesting features or away from eddies.
  3. Rat-In-A-Box Delivery System Prior Art by dohboy · · Score: 3, Interesting

    While an application of this technology could be used to stealthly deliver narcotics from South America or WMD from who-knows-where. With a zero sonar fingerprint, a submarine glider drone would be tough to stop.

    And if you that was absurd, recently a WWII Japanese submarine that was orginally intended to carry plague rats to America was just found off of Hawaii.
    http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/nationworld/ 2002214428_sub21.html/