Robotics

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5.5 - Robotics

Objectives:

To understand that robotic devices can be used in conjunction with the GPS and satellite communications system to observe the ocean.
To know the versatility and limitations of robotic devices.
To be able to describe each of the following: AUVs, gliders, saildrones and ARGO floats.

The Age of the Robot has arrived, certainly in the fast moving field of oceanography. With the advent of global satellite communication and navigation systems coupled with ever-improving battery technology, scientists and engineers are coming up with innovative robotic devices to explore the world's oceans.

While they are expensive, certainly at the developing stages, they will be cheaper than using ships and submarines, and cover a wider area as their numbers increase. Here are some of the most common examples.