Waveglider
Owned and operated by Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (WHOI)’s National Deep Submergence Facility (NDSF), the SV3 Model Block II WaveGlider is a cutting-edge surface vehicle, purchased through Liquid Robotics, that can be used in conjunction with Jason, Sentry, and Alvin operations. The NDSF waveglider features a custom WHOI micromoden acoustic communications package that allows for over-the-horizon operations with subsea vehicles/platforms via an Iridium link.
Using wave motion as primary propulsion, the waveglider can reach a speed of 1.5 knots and stay adrift for multiple days in the right ocean conditions. The WaveGlider also has a backup thruster, solar-panel-charged batteries, and the capability to include various sensors. On E/V Nautilus, the WaveGlider will be deployed in conjunction with WHOI’s AUV Sentry: supervising its pre-programmed seafloor missions, receiving acoustic messages from Sentry, and sending them over Iridium satellite to teams on the ship and/or on shore.
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Wave Glider SV3 Block II At-A-Glance
- Up to 0.8 kt in SS 2; 1.4 kt in SS 3; 2.0 kt in SS 4+
- Up to 1 year (varies based on operating conditions and location)
- > 15 m
- on mast; in/on/under float; attached to sub or optional winch; towed from sub or optional winch
- 50 m radius
- 225W (nominal)
- 6.8kWh
- Satellite, Cell, Wi-Fi, Line of Sight Radio
- Regulus
- Autonomy and precise control
- Detailed self-awareness and health monitoring
- Customize payload and vehicle behavior
- WGMS
- Plan, monitor, pilot missions and manage data
- Multi-user, multi-vehicle, and multi-mission
- Real-time control and data access, anytime, anywhere
