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 marine animal migration patterns.
"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. This technology could be particularly useful for studying under-sampled areas, such as the Southern Ocean.
If successful, the five-year journey could open new opportunities for long-term ocean research.
Author's summary: Robot circles globe for ocean research.