Introduction
Researchers are unveiling a new generation of sea-faring robots designed to provide unparalleled access to the world's oceans. The yellow fish-like Sentry, at left, is one of these highly anticipated robotic vehicles, shown here with the manned submersible Alvin during a testing expedition off the coast of Bermuda.
— Bryn Nelson"; Tech_Frontiers_Subs_080908[i++] = new Array("","Sentry","","http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/j/msnbc/Components/Photo/_new/080908-SeaExplore-1-hmed.vmedium.jpg","","Image: Sentry", "", "", "", "", "left", "", "Chris German/WHOI", "233", "198", "#000000", "", "", "", ""); Tech_Frontiers_Subs_080908[i-1].body = "
Sentry
The autonomous underwater vehicle Sentry, here being lowered into the North Atlantic during a deep-sea engineering trial, recently completed its first big mission: to precisely map two seafloor sites off the coast of Oregon. The robotic vehicle's initial success is being touted as an example of the capabilities of the new fleet of AUVs ready to provide unparalleled access to the world's oceans. "; Tech_Frontiers_Subs_080908[i++] = new Array("","Thermal gliders","","http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/j/msnbc/Components/Photo/_new/080908-SeaExplore-2-hmed.hmedium.jpg","","Image: thermal glider", "", "", "", "", "", "", "Dave Fratantoni/WHOI", "273", "420", "#000000", "", "", "", ""); Tech_Frontiers_Subs_080908[i-1].body = "
Thermal gliders
A thermal glider ascends to the ocean surface in the Bahamas in a test observed by MIT/WHOI graduate student David Sutherland. The gliders, designed to use the ocean's heat to repeatedly ascend and descend, have traveled for months at sea entirely on their own. But the autonomous vehicles also embody the risk of such unguided exploration: one recently disappeared mid-mission in the Atlantic. "; Tech_Frontiers_Subs_080908[i++] = new Array("","Nereus","","http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/j/msnbc/Components/Photo/_new/080908-SeaExplore-3-hmed.hmedium.jpg","","Image: Adam Boesel", "", "", "", "", "", "", "Robert Elder/WHOI", "273", "364", "#000000", "", "", "", ""); Tech_Frontiers_Subs_080908[i-1].body = "
Nereus
Nereus, one the newest stars in the nation's fleet of autonomous underwater vehicles, has been designed to dive down to depths of nearly seven miles to explore the ocean's deepest trench. After successful tests off the coast of Hawaii last year, the robotic AUV is being readied for its first major mission early next year."; Tech_Frontiers_Subs_080908[i++] = new Array("","Underwater observatories","","http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/j/msnbc/Components/Photo/_new/080908-SeaExplore-4-hmed.vmedium.jpg","","Image: Ocean Observatories Initiative", "", "", "", "", "left", "", "University of Washington", "268", "198", "#000000", "", "", "", ""); Tech_Frontiers_Subs_080908[i-1].body = "
Underwater observatories
Scientists have finalized the locations of two observatory sites off the coast of Oregon as part of the ambitious Ocean Observatories Initiative. One, at a site called Hydrate Ridge, will enable studies about icy, energy-rich methane deposits and associated marine life. A second site, at a location known as Axial Seamount, will permit close-up studies of volcanism, hydrothermal venting and other processes. A separate Canadian project will complement the U.S.-based observatories."; Tech_Frontiers_Subs_080908[i++] = new Array("","Exploring the seafloor","","http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/j/msnbc/Components/Photo/_new/080908-SeaExplore-5-hmed.hmedium.jpg","","", "", "", "", "", "", "", "University of Washington", "273", "364", "#000000", "", "", "", ""); Tech_Frontiers_Subs_080908[i-1].body = "
Exploring the seafloor
Icy methane deposits — represented by the patches of white in this image — collect on and below the seafloor where the Juan de Fuca tectonic plate dives beneath the far larger North American plate. Beyond accessing the energy stored within these methane hydrates, researchers hope to better understand the rich community of microbes living on the methane and serving as the first link in the regional food chain."; // END editorial data