Bluefin Spray Glider for Ocean Monitoring and Forecasting

To drive its motion, the glider manipulates its buoyancy by transferring hydraulic fluid between its pressure hull and flooded payload compartment.  This vertical buoyancy is hydrodynamically converted into forward motion using a pair of wings, providing the vehicle glide along a saw-tooth pattern.  In this manner, the Spray is capable of deployments over periods exceeding 6 months. 

Horizon Marine analyses oceanographic data in mapping, modeling, and forecasting significant events for their customers in the oil and gas industry worldwide. James W. Feeney, President of Horizon Marine views the Spray Glider operations as another improvement to their Eddy Watchsm ocean current monitoring and forecasting services. "Our suite of equipment for monitoring has to meet the cost effectiveness test for our commercial market.  We chose Bluefin Robotics and the Spray Gliders because they offer long-term, unattended deployments at a reasonable cost; and we enjoy the Bluefin attention to our requirements.  The quality sensors and the ability to range over long distances provide valuable subsurface data used in our forecasting.

The Spray Glider was originally developed by Scripps Institute of Oceanography and funded by the Office of Naval Research. Bluefin has had an established production capability for the Spray since it was initially licensed in 2004. Bluefin has successfully manufactured and operated the Bluefin Spray for military, domestic and international oceanographic research customers. The new Bluefin-Horizon Marine relationship signifies the Spray's official adoption into the commercial market sector with an ability to address real world commercial needs.

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