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Liquid Robotics' Marine Robot Completes 9,000 Mile Cross-Pacific Journey to Set New World Record
SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA, Dec 05, 2012 (MARKETWIRE via COMTEX) --
U.S. based Liquid Robotics(R), an ocean data service provider and
developer of the Wave Glider(R), today announced the first Pacific
Crossing (PacX) Wave Glider, "Papa Mau," completed its 9,000 nautical
mile (16,668 kilometers) scientific journey across the Pacific Ocean
to set a new world record for the longest distance traveled by an
autonomous vehicle. Throughout his journey, Papa Mau navigated along
a prescribed route under autonomous control collecting and
transmitting unprecedented amounts of high-resolution ocean data
never before available over these vast distances or timeframes. The
Company is providing open access to this data as part of its PacX
Challenge, a global competition seeking new ocean applications and
research using the PacX data set. Today, the Company announced the
five PacX Challenge finalists.
During Papa Mau's journey, he weathered gale force storms, fended off
sharks, spent more than 365 days at sea, skirted around the Great
Barrier Reef, and finally battled and surfed the East Australian
Current (EAC) to reach his final destination in Hervey Bay near
Bundaberg, Queensland, Australia. He traveled through and measured
over 1200 miles of a chlorophyll bloom along the Equatorial Pacific.
These blooms indicate proliferation of phytoplankton that is
fundamental to ocean life and climate regulation. While typically
monitored through satellite imagery direct validation of chlorophyll
blooms at this resolution provides a groundbreaking link between
scientific modeling and in-situ measurement of the Pacific Ocean.
"To say we are excited and proud of Papa Mau reaching his final
destination is an understatement," said Bill Vass, CEO of Liquid
Robotics. "We set off on the PacX journey to demonstrate that Wave
Glider technology could not only survive the high seas and a journey
of this length, but more importantly, collect and transmit ocean data
in real-time from the most remote portions of the Pacific Ocean.
We've demonstrated delivery of ocean data services through the most
challenging ocean conditions. Mission accomplished."
An important aspect of the PacX program is the PacX Challenge, a
competition designed to encourage scientists and students to make use
of the PacX data in interesting, productive, or innovative ways.
Research abstracts were submitted from around the world to compete
for the grand prize award of a $50,000 research grant from BP and six
months of Wave Glider data services.
"Liquid Robotics is proud to announce the PacX Science Board has
selected five outstanding finalists to compete for the PacX grand
prize," said Luke Beatman, Oceanographer at Liquid Robotics and
chairman of the PacX Science Board. "These scientists will conduct
research into some of the world's most challenging ocean issues
ranging from measuring the ocean's health and respiration to studying
the ocean's biomass -- the most fundamental organisms critical to
ocean life." The five PacX finalists are:
-- J. Michael Beman, University of California Merced, Merced, CA
-- Nicole Goebel, University of California Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz, CA
-- Andrew Lucas, Scripps Institution of Oceanography, La Jolla, CA
-- Elise Ralph, Wise Eddy, Boston, MA
-- Tracy Villareal, University of Texas, Port Aransas, TX
Closely following Papa Mau's arrival in Australia is the second of the
Australian PacX ocean robots, named Benjamin. He is expected to land
in early 2013. One of the pair heading for Japan, Fontaine Maru, is
returning to Hawai'i for repair and will continue his journey to
Japan once complete. To follow their progress, please visit
http://www.liquidr.com/pacx/.
About Liquid Robotics:
Liquid Robotics is an ocean data services
provider and developer of the Wave Glider(R), the world's first wave
powered, autonomous marine robot. This persistent and versatile
platform for ocean science and exploration breaks the economic and
risk barriers to ocean data collection. The Wave Glider enables game
changing scientific discoveries to help us address the biggest
challenges our world faces, including global climate change, national
security, hurricane & tsunami warning, and offshore energy & resource
management. Liquid Robotics is backed by VantagePoint Capital
Partners. For more information, visit www.liquidr.com.
Liquid Robotics and Wave Glider are registered trademarks of Liquid
Robotics, Inc., in the United States and other countries.
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For media questions or interviews, please contact:
United States:
Joanne Masters,
PR Liquid Robotics
C: 1-858-232-5538
Email Contact
www.liquidr.com
SOURCE: Liquid Robotics
http://www2.marketwire.com/mw/emailprcntct id=534DFA466CAC63F3
http://www.liquidr.com/
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