An autonomous, torpedo-shaped robot named Redwing was launched from the coast of Massachusetts this week, beginning a historic attempt to become the first underwater vehicle to circumnavigate the globe. The five-year uncrewed mission, a joint project between technology firm Teledyne Marine and Rutgers University, will test the limits of long-duration autonomous navigation while collecting a continuous stream of vital ocean data intended to transform climate science and weather forecasting.
The mission represents a pivotal step toward a future where fleets of autonomous gliders constantly patrol the world’s oceans, providing real-time data at a fraction of the cost of traditional ship-based research. Scientists leading the project state that the information gathered on ocean temperature, salinity, and currents will fill critical gaps in global observation systems, leading to more accurate storm warnings and robust climate models. Redwing’s journey is designed not only as a technological proof-of-concept but also as the foundation for a new era of persistent and widespread ocean monitoring.
Advanced Undersea Propulsion System
Redwing is a next-generation Slocum Sentinel Glider, a highly advanced class of autonomous underwater vehicle. Constructed with a carbon fiber hull, it is larger, faster, and more powerful than its predecessors. Unlike propeller-driven submersibles, the glider achieves forward motion through an exceptionally energy-efficient method. By precisely adjusting its internal ballast, the vehicle alters its buoyancy, causing it to sink and rise through the water column. Its wings convert this vertical movement into a horizontal glide, tracing a sawtooth-like pattern through the sea.
This unique propulsion system allows Redwing to operate for years in extreme conditions with minimal energy consumption. It is capable of diving to depths of 1,000 meters while navigating powerful ocean currents, dodging obstacles like fishing nets, and making its own routing decisions without human intervention. The design’s efficiency is the key to the mission’s multi-year endurance, enabling a voyage that would be impossible for conventional underwater robots. The Slocum Glider design was named for Joshua Slocum, the first person to complete a solo sailing circumnavigation of the world in the late 1890s.
An Unprecedented Global Voyage
The circumnavigation is projected to take nearly five years to complete. The mission began with Redwing’s launch from a research vessel in the Atlantic Ocean off Martha’s Vineyard, Massachusetts. From there, the glider is programmed to ride the Gulf Stream east toward Europe before angling south for its first major stopover at Gran Canaria, off the coast of Northwest Africa.
After maintenance and checks, its journey will continue to Cape Town, South Africa. The subsequent leg involves a massive crossing of the Indian Ocean to reach Western Australia and then New Zealand. From there, Redwing will navigate the powerful Antarctic Circumpolar Current to approach the Falkland Islands in the South Atlantic. Mission planners have also scheduled potential stops in Brazil and the Caribbean before the glider finally returns to its launch region in New England. These waypoints serve as crucial opportunities for the team to inspect the vehicle and perform any necessary updates before sending it back into the ocean currents.
Continuous Data for Climate and Weather
Throughout its journey, Redwing will serve as a mobile sensor platform, gathering critical oceanographic data. The glider is programmed to surface every 8 to 12 hours to establish a satellite link, transmitting its latest measurements to scientists on shore. If it fails to connect, the vehicle’s programming directs it to continue its mission and try again at the next scheduled interval. The real-time data, which includes precise readings of ocean temperature, pressure, salinity, and current dynamics, will be fed into models used by national and international forecasting systems, including the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).
Oscar Schofield, a lead scientist on the mission from Rutgers University, emphasized the importance of this data stream. “We live on an ocean planet,” he stated. “All weather and climate are regulated by the ocean. This mission will give us another tool we need to achieve real understanding.” By sampling parts of the ocean that are rarely visited, the glider will provide insights that are expected to sharpen long-term climate projections and deliver earlier, more accurate warnings for extreme weather events.
A Mission of Science and Education
The Redwing project is a collaboration between the vehicle’s designers at Teledyne Marine and the scientific team at Rutgers University, which has been at the forefront of glider technology for decades. A 2009 mission led by a Rutgers team was the first to send a glider across the Atlantic Ocean. This circumnavigation builds on that legacy, pushing the technology to a global scale. The mission also carries a time capsule containing commemorative objects and a congratulatory letter from Rutgers President William F. Tate IV.
Beyond its scientific goals, the mission incorporates a significant educational component. More than 50 undergraduate students are enrolled in a dedicated research class co-taught by Schofield and fellow oceanographer Scott Glenn. These students will actively track Redwing’s progress, analyze the data it collects, and blog about its discoveries, providing them with direct experience in a pioneering oceanographic project. The mission also aims to inspire future engineers by demonstrating the advanced capabilities of modern robotics in exploring challenging environments.
The Future of Ocean Exploration
Project leaders see Redwing’s journey as a foundational step toward a revolutionary shift in ocean science. Brian Maguire, chief operating officer at Teledyne Marine, described the mission as “truly historic.” “It will pave the way for a future where a global fleet of autonomous underwater gliders continuously gather data from the oceans,” he said. Such a fleet could act as a planetary-scale sensor network, offering a persistent presence in every ocean basin.
This sustained monitoring could unlock new discoveries about the planet’s systems. In addition to its standard sensors, Redwing carries a fish tracker that can detect tagged marine animals, offering rare glimpses into their migration patterns in the open ocean. A global network of similar robots could provide unparalleled insight into the health of marine ecosystems, the physics of ocean currents, and the complex interactions between the sea and the atmosphere. This mission is the first step in realizing a long-held scientific dream of observing the global ocean continuously and comprehensively.