Advanced Spray Glider Capability

Ultimately, the team aims to create an extended field presence with the Bluefin Spray Glider, particularly in the Gulf of Mexico and Southeast Atlantic regions for persistent environmental monitoring and data collection.

Jeff Smith, Director of Programs at Bluefin Robotics says that in light of recent events in the Gulf of Mexico, the combination of the HBOI GROC and the Bluefin Spray Glider will fill a vital need in the long-term monitoring of this critical environment. According to him, the Spray has depth and endurance capabilities required to maintain a continuous monitoring presence.

Originally developed at Scripps Institute of Oceanography, the Bluefin Spray facilitates the teams' goals in the Gulf of Mexico and beyond. The system is a deep-diving, buoyancy-driven autonomous underwater vehicle that collects water column data profiles using a pumped oceanographic-grade Conductivity-Temperature-Depth (CTD) sensor and a variety of other instrumentation. To drive its motion, the glider manipulates its buoyancy by transferring food-grade mineral oil between its pressure hull and flooded payload compartment. This vertical buoyancy is converted into forward motion using a pair of wings, which allows the vehicle glide along a saw-tooth dive profile to depths up to 1500 meters. In this manner, the Spray is capable of deployments over periods exceeding 6 months establishing the system as a very efficient platform for persistent monitoring. A number of Spray Gliders are already deployed in the Gulf of Mexico by other oceanographic groups.