In the News
Saildrones return from the Arctic after milestone research mission
ANCHORAGE, Alaska (KTUU) - After covering more than 36,000 nautical miles and going where no drones have gone before, a fleet of five research saildrones has returned to shore in Dutch Harbor, while one wayward machine was recovered in Utqiagvik. Chris Meinig is featured.
UW studies tiny drone-powered sailboats as potential breakthrough in weather forecasts
Could tiny, unmanned sailboats buzzing around in the oceans be the key to vastly improved weather forecasts across the globe? Christian Meinig and Noah Lawrence are interviewed in the video clip.
First Autonomous Circumnavigation of Antarctica
The Southern Ocean around Antarctica is a dangerous and foreboding place. Wind speeds can exceed 80 miles per hour and waves as high as a 5-story building are common, along with frequent icebergs. Adrienne Sutton is quoted.
Seafaring robot crashes into iceberg, still finishes scientific trip around Antarctica
13,670 nautical miles. 50-foot waves. One big collision. Over the weekend a Saildrone — a 23-foot long uncrewed marine robot — withstood the tempestuous seas around Antarctica to complete the first-ever circumnavigation of the continent by a drone. Adrienne Sutton is quoted.
Saildrone’s Journey Around Antarctica Uncovers New Climate Clues
The robot sailboat is called #1020. It’s a lackluster moniker for a machine that just spent seven months battling its way through 12,500 miles of frigid, massive waves to circumnavigate Antarctica. The robot, made by startup Saildrone, is the first of its kind to complete the harrowing journey. More important, it’s the only scientific vehicle to have captured such a detailed environmental picture of the state of the Southern Ocean, bringing back data that could be key to our understanding of climate change. Adrienne Sutton is quored.