Robotics require power to make them operate. Having a suitable sufficient power supply is a common obstacle for developers of robotics systems. iRobot, best known for its robotic vacuum cleaners and life-saving military robots has developed a deep diving AUV (Autonomous Underwater Vehicle) that is able to operate for seven months in the sea on one single battery charge.

The secret behind the long battery life is that Seaglider has no propeller or any other external moving parts. Instead, it glides through the water as it rises and sinks. A tiny internal motor shifts the weight of Seaglider’s battery to change the robot’s direction. When the battery is rolled in one direction, the robot moves toward that direction, causing it to turn.

Capable of reaching depths of 3,300 feet, the iRobot 1KA Seaglider was designed as a cost-effective way for exploration of the deep over lengthy periods of time.
The 1KA Seaglider can measure temperature, salinity and other data and send back the information using global satellite telemetry.

Already in use by the U.S. Navy, government agencies and research organizations, the 1KA Seaglider has been developed to study oceanography and study climate change, surveillance and reconnaissance, as well as for harbor defense.