Liquid Robotics Releases Larger, More Powerful Wave Glider

The new SV3 in red next to the yellow SV2. Photo courtesy Liquid Robotics.

By Danielle Lucey



Today, Liquid Robotics announced it has released a new version of its Wave Glider, the Wave Glider S3, which will feature amped up power and communications capabilities and built-in scalability.



The SV3, which stands for surface vehicle, is 2 feet larger than the company’s original 7-foot Wave Glider, now called the SV2, and boasts an upgraded software architecture, called Regulus. The cloud-based platform enables inter-vehicle communication and allows customers to do in-situ processing of high-resolution acoustic or radiofrequency information, among other things. 



“It’s just a maturation, the next stage in evolution for long-duration autonomous vehicles and long-duration autonomous data collection in the ocean,” says Bill Vass, CEO of Liquid Robotics, who spoke to AUVSI.



Unlike the SV2, SV3 also has a hybrid propulsion system that can use wave power, thrusters or solar power, enabling it to operate in higher current areas, though its predecessor vehicle can claim hurricane wave experience. (While Vass says it’s possible SV3 could also survive a hurricane, the company couldn’t test for it at Liquid Robotics’ Hawaii facility, which has consistent inch-high to 7-foot waves in different areas.)



The company’s endurance goal is to allow long-duration missions without intervention in the ocean, a feat proven by the SV2’s record-breaking Pacific crossing, from California to Japan and then Australia. Liquid Robotics approaches this by making as many of the Wave Glider’s components redundant as possible. The real limit on Wave Glider missions, says Vass, is the age-old ocean problem of biofouling.



The system has a significant jump in speed as well, according to Vass. In addition to an auxiliary thruster, the SV3 has one more solar panel on board than the SV2. 



Vass says he envisions clients will still use the SV2 for grid applications, where you want to deploy fleets at a lower cost or for research purposes. The SV3 has about double the towing ability of the previous Wave Glider for very large instruments, which may be attractive to oil and gas, and added security layers, which could attract government. The two systems could also be used in conjunction, he said, with the SV3 acting as a relay for SV2 data.



The new system is the beginning of the company’s “floating data center at sea” concept, he says. 



“This really in many cases about knots and watts. It’s increasing speed, increasing power, increasing payload and increasing compute,” says Vass.



This new product is the first in what may become a family of systems for Liquid Robotics. 



“There will probably be an expended line beyond that, as well, in the future,” says Vass.



Customers can order the SV3 now, which will be available in the early part of the third quarter, says Vass.