RS Aqua Ltd. announced that they have signed a distribution agreement with Liquid Robotics Inc, USA to provide UK/Ireland sales and technical support for Wave Glider®, the world’s first wave powered autonomous marine robot.
The impact of Wave Glider® within the ocean research and allied fraternities has been amazing but, totally justified. The Wave Glider uses only the ocean’s endless supply of wave energy for propulsion and solar energy for communications, computing and sensor electronics. It requires no fuel or manpower, creates no harmful environmental emissions and requires no refueling as it goes about its missions to collect environmental data during yearlong cruises over thousands of miles.
Managing Director, Roger Scrivens, has a long held belief in the benefits that glider technology can bring to the ocean research fraternity and the pathway towards collaboration between the two parties has rapidly developed over the last twelve months. A 2012 visit to the Liquid Robotics headquarters in California by Technical Sales Manager Martin Stemp, paved the way to the agreement which came into force 1 January 2013.
Under the terms of the agreement RS Aqua will provide marketing, sales, service and maintenance support for the Wave Glider® product line within the ocean research, offshore renewable energy, coastal monitoring, security, defence and allied market sectors.
They have also entered into a collaborative venture with Manson Oceanographic Consultancy who, during 2011 and 2012, provided Wave Glider® business development services to Liquid Robotics for the UK and Irish territories. The foundations laid by Manson will be progressed from the Hampshire based commercial and engineering facilities.
The Wave Glider® is a two part vehicle with a surface float connected by a 6m umbilical to a subsea glider, or submersible. The surface Float contains the system payload and control technology whilst the energy generated by the underwater Sub wing array is converted into forward thrust. Payload can comprise a wide, and almost endless, range of ocean and environmental sensors with real time communications to satellites.
Many tales of Wave Glider® prowess and capability are already circulating within the media but, of special note, were the continuous successful operation of vehicles in the Gulf of Mexico during Hurricane Isaac, off the Northern US coast battling Hurricane Sandy and the recent arrival in Hervey Bay, Queensland of “Papa Mau”, the first of four Wave Gliders to complete a 9000 miles crossing of the Pacific from San Francisco to Hawaii, ending his world record journey in Australia.
[mappress]
January 15, 2013