Wave Gliders Launched from San Francisco for Pacific Crossing

Together with Liquid Robotics (Sunnyvale, CA), UVS celebrated the launch of four Wave Gliders from San Francisco on 17 November 2011 that will attempt the Pacific Crossing Challenge. Four of the autonomous surface vehicles left San Francisco – two will travel to Japan and two will transit to Australia.

The two vehicles bound for Australia are estimated to be recovered some 300 days after launch with current plans to make recovery off the South Coast of Moreton Island. The Queensland University of Technology will support the recovery with plans to monitor AIS data to reduce the risk of interaction with ships during the approach to shore.

UVS represents the Wave Glider in Australia for Liquid Robotics and has recently completed and extensive week of trials and training for the Royal Australia Navy at Jervis Bay using two Wave Gliders. The trials at Jervis Bay demonstrated the game-changing capability that the Wave Glider technology introduces. Many applications for the technology are apparent and more will be discovered as the function and performance of the autonomous surface vehicles is better understood.

Paul Montgomery with a Wave Glider after recovery from trials at Jervis Bay