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This animation depicts the gliders gathering measurements as they swim around
the periphery of what might be imagined as a giant fish tank with
porous walls.
The gliders take measurements of the ocean's temperature,
salinity, and concentration of microscopic plants and animals. If the
gliders are too close to each other, they will take redundant
measurements. If they are too far away from each other, they might miss
important measurements. They try to maintain an efficient distance from
one another as they move around the tracks that the scientists have
designed. The yellow gliders are operating completely autonomously,
while the red ones require some human input.
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Animation: Francois Lekien, Derek Paley and Lance Herrington