Underwater Robot Embarks on 5-Year Mission
An underwater robot named "Redwing" has departed from Massachusetts on a mission to circle the globe, collecting data on water depth, temperature, and salinity.
The torpedo-shaped glider will send data back to scientists in near-real time and carry a device to detect tagged fish, shedding light on migration patterns of marine animals.
"The most exciting for us is to prove that you can send an autonomous vehicle almost anywhere you want under the ocean,"
said Leslie Ann McGee, chief innovation officer at Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution. The technology could be useful for studying under-sampled areas like the Southern Ocean.
If successful, the five-year journey could open new opportunities for long-term ocean research.
Author's summary: Robot explores ocean.