The Wave Glider | How It Works

See How It Works

Converting Wave Motion Into Propulsion

Wave energy is greatest at the water’s surface, decreasing rapidly with increasing depth. The Wave Glider’s unique two-part architecture exploits this difference in energy to provide forward propulsion.

Leveraging Solar Energy for Extra Power and Precision

The Wave Glider offers an additional propulsion system using stored solar energy. The additional directional thrust increases mobility and precision and helps to navigate challenging ocean conditions (doldrums, high currents, and hurricanes/cyclones), or accommodate mission changes. The solar energy system also recharges batteries that power sensors.

Autonomous Navigation: Real-Time Communications

Operate the Wave Glider individually or in fleets with fewer pilots and less risk. Change missions in real-time to adapt to new operational requirements. Other key capabilities include:

Programmable course navigation including precise hold-station capabilities
Vessel detection and avoidance
Multi-vehicle fleet operations
Flexible piloting, sea-side control, and 3rd party navigation support

Winch for Deploying Ocean Sensors at Depth

Designed specifically for the Wave Glider, the Winch 150P offers continuous power and communications through the line down to the payload at the sinker, making it ideal for subsea acoustics, CTD and fluorometry casts, water sampling, and fish tracking.

Open Sensor and Payload Integration Architecture

The Wave Glider is designed to support a wide range of sensors and payloads. The modular and adaptable payload design, coupled with a powerful solar energy system and on-board compute environment, allows our partners to develop and deliver unique solutions to customers. More importantly, it allows customers to scale a proven application across many Wave Gliders quickly.

Wave Glider Specifications

Water Speed: Up to 0.8 kt in SS 2; 1.4 kt in SS 3; 2.0 kt in SS 4+
Endurance: Up to 1 year (varies based on operating conditions and location)
Minimum Water Depth: > 15 m
Station Keeping: 30 m radius
Payload Mounting Options: On Mast, In-Float, Hull, Sub, Winch, Towing
Average Continuous Power: 5W – 25W
Max Solar Collection: 225W (nominal)
Battery Capacity: 0.9kWh – 6.8kWh rechargeable
Communications: Satellite, Cell, Wi-Fi, Line of Sight Radio

Mission Management Software

Intelligent Vehicle Software: Regulus

Autonomy and precise control
Detailed self-awareness and health monitoring
Customize payload and vehicle behavior

Command and Control Software: WGMS

Plan, monitor, pilot missions and manage data
Multi-user, multi-vehicle, and multi-mission
Real-time control and data access, anytime, anywhere

The ocean is full of power and information. The Wave Glider is designed to capture both. With the latest advancements in energy harvesting and propulsion, combined with a payload and sensor architecture, the Wave Glider is a persistent mobile data-gathering platform.

Energy Harvesting Ocean Robot

Energy Harvesting Ocean Robot

The ocean is full of power and information. The Wave Glider is designed to capture both. With the latest advancements in energy harvesting and propulsion, combined with a payload and sensor architecture, the Wave Glider is a persistent mobile data-gathering platform.

See How It Works

Converting Wave Motion Into Propulsion

Leveraging Solar Energy for Extra Power and Precision

Autonomous Navigation: Real-Time Communications

Winch for Deploying Ocean Sensors at Depth

Open Sensor and Payload Integration Architecture

Wave Glider Specifications

Mission Management Software

Intelligent Vehicle Software: Regulus

Command and Control Software: WGMS

The ocean is full of power and information. The Wave Glider is designed to capture both. With the latest advancements in energy harvesting and propulsion, combined with a payload and sensor architecture, the Wave Glider is a persistent mobile data-gathering platform.

Energy Harvesting Ocean Robot

Energy Harvesting Ocean Robot

The ocean is full of power and information. The Wave Glider is designed to capture both. With the latest advancements in energy harvesting and propulsion, combined with a payload and sensor architecture, the Wave Glider is a persistent mobile data-gathering platform.

See How It Works

Converting Wave Motion Into Propulsion

Leveraging Solar Energy for Extra Power and Precision

Autonomous Navigation: Real-Time Communications

Winch for Deploying Ocean Sensors at Depth

Open Sensor and Payload Integration Architecture

Wave Glider Specifications

Mission Management Software

Intelligent Vehicle Software: Regulus

Command and Control Software: WGMS

Resources

Data Sheet:

Mission Management Software Data Sheet

Spec Sheet:

Wave Glider Spec Sheet

Data Sheet:

The Wave Glider: Transform How You Understand the Ocean