[Courtesy of the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries]
SEOUL -- South Korea will push for the localization of core equipment of underwater gliders used for ocean research in a state project led by a university research team. Underwater gliders navigate with the help of periodic surface GPS fixes, pressure sensors, tilt sensors, and magnetic compasses. South Korea has developed an operating system.
An underwater glider is an autonomous underwater vehicle that employs variable-buoyancy propulsion. It is fitted with hydrofoils (underwater wings) that allow it to glide forward while descending through the water. At a certain depth, the glider switches to positive buoyancy to climb back up and forward. A wide variety of glider designs are in use.
The Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries called for the development of technologies that can operate more than three underwater gliders at the same time as well as operational technologies suitable for beaches with strong currents and software that can enhance the utilization of observational data.
Kyungpook National University, a national university based in the southeastern city of Daegu, has been selected as a leading research institute that will form a consortium with other research groups and private companies.
reporter
Lim Chang-won
cwlim34@ajunews.com
