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ModeratorPermalink Reply by Chris Anderson on March 13, 2010 at 3:52pm

For those who don't want to click through, this is just the underwater kind. They've been called gliders for a decade or more--this is pretty standard stuff these days in AUVs. The method is just changing buoyancy and letting the shape of the craft turn vertical motion into forward motion.

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Permalink Reply by Rich Weaver on March 13, 2010 at 4:18pm

Sorry for the poor title (and bold type) and not being familiar with AUVs. I thought the 221 day journey and 7300 km (4500 mi) journey across the Atlantic on one battery charge somewhat amazing.

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Permalink Reply by Morli on March 13, 2010 at 4:34pm

amazing it is.

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Permalink Reply by Bill Porter on March 13, 2010 at 5:10pm

UUV gliders have been around for a while, and have already made trips across oceans. I know of one that crossed the Atlantic.

There are also 'Wave Gliders' that harvest energy from waves to propel themselves. One went from Hawaii to California.

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