Seaglider, Developed Military Used For Research

JAKARTA - Fishermen at the Selayar precinct, South Sulawesi found a rocket-shaped object moving in the ocean. Later it was discovered that the object was a Chinese Seaglider. So what is the Seaglider and what is it intended for?

Summarized from various sources, Seaglider is a diving Autonomous Underwater Vehicle (AUV) that is designed to move in the ocean and covers a distance of thousands of kilometers. These objects can be used for military and research purposes.

Launching the Ocean Service page, Seaglider can be said to be a water drone that can move without a crew. This tool is generally used to collect data in the oceans, as well as remote locations that are difficult to reach by humans.

Seaglider internal components include a variety of sensors to monitor temperature, current salinitation and other ocean conditions. Its missile-like shape also allows this tool to travel long distances over long periods of time, without repair.

The original Seaglider concept was first introduced for marine exploration activities in the early 1960s. Its function is as a tool for divers to move in the sea.

The operation of the machine that can glide freely without buoyancy control has attracted the attention of DARPA, as the United States military research agency (US). Through the DARPA SBIR Program they approved the development of the tool, considering that similar research projects were also underway in the Soviet Union.

In the DARPA project, they accepted a proposal for a glider engine powered by a sea temperature gradient. So that the tool can stay afloat and move in the sea, without having to be operated by humans.

In 2003, not only was the thermal powered glider working (Slocum Thermal), Webb Research and other institutions had introduced a battery powered glider with a duration and efficiency far exceeding the previous model.

The University of Washington, and iRobot were the first to receive an exclusive five-year license to manufacture Seaglider for consumers outside the University of Washington in June 2008.

Then in May 2013, Kongsberg Underwater Technology, Inc. announced a commercialization project with the University of Washington to secure exclusive rights to manufacture, market and continue development of Seaglider technology.

As stated above, Seaglider can carry out exploration and exploration of the sea without human assistance. The Seaglider is also designed to operate at depths of up to 1,000 meters. This tool is commonly used for survey and oceanographic data purposes.

In addition, the Seaglider drone can be used for research and research organizations. The Seaglider can also be adapted to other needs, including use by the Navy or government agencies for defense missions.

Seaglider has carried out various missions such as, monitoring and collecting data during the oil spill incident from the Deepwater Horizon refinery, in May 2010; The US Navy is also deploying a slider-type UAV to assist with anti-submarine warfare missions.