Spray AUV Makes History Crossing Gulf Stream

November 7, 2004 A small ocean glider named Spray is the first autonomous underwater vehicle (AUV), to cross the Gulf Stream underwater, proving the viability of self-propelled gliders for long-distance scientific missions and opening new possibilities for studies of the oceans.

Launched about 100 miles south of Nantucket Island, the 2-metre orange glider looks like a model airplane with no visible moving parts. It slowly made its way toward Bermuda some 600 miles to the south of Cape Cod at about one-half knot, or 12 miles per day, measuring various properties of the ocean as it glided up to the surface and then back down to 1,000-metres depth (3,300 feet) three times a day. Scientists recovered the vehicle this week north of Bermuda.

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