SEMINAR: AOML Seminar - September 3, 2010 - Justin E. Manley - Justin E. Manley - "The Wave Glider: An Energy Harvesting Unmanned Surface Vehicle for Ocean Science

["Aoml.Receptionist" <Aoml.Receptionist@noaa.gov>]

AOML Seminar

DATE:            Friday, September 3, 2010

TIME:            10:00 a.m. – refreshments  at 9:45 a.m.

LOCATION:  AOML First-Floor Conference Room

SPEAKER :   Justin E. Manley, Director of Scientific and Commercial Business, Liquid Robotics, Inc.

 

TITLE :         "The Wave Glider: An Energy Harvesting Unmanned Surface Vehicle for Ocean Science

 

Abstract:  The Wave Glider wave-powered unmanned maritime vehicle (UMV) represents a novel and unique approach to persistent ocean presence. Wave Gliders harvest the abundant energy contained in ocean waves to provide essentially limitless propulsion while two solar panels continuously replenish batteries that are used to power the vehicle’s control electronics, communications systems, and payloads.

Wave Glider is a hybrid sea-surface and underwater vehicle in that it is comprised of a submerged “glider” attached via a tether to a surface float. The Wave Glider vehicle is propelled by the purely mechanical conversion of ocean wave energy into forward thrust, independent of wave direction.
Engineering prototypes and the first product generation of the Wave Glider vehicles have logged a combined total of more than 100,000 nautical miles at sea, with the longest continuous mission lasting more than a year.
In this presentation, we give an overview of the evolution of the design of this new platform and present results from the extensive engineering sea trials that we have conducted with several prototype generations of the vehicle. The vehicle’s performance in a variety of ocean conditions --- varying sea state, wind speed, and surface currents --- is discussed.
The vehicle’s robustness and capabilities for extended mission durations are also examined. In addition to the Wave Glider technology we will present results from a variety of ongoing scientific demonstration programs.  Wave Gliders have been engaged in meteorological and oceanographic (METOC) studies including open ocean METOC, coastal monitoring and support of tsunami warning buoys. Results from test deployments of industry standard oceanographic instruments will be presented.