Maturing glider technology providing a modular platform capable of mapping ecosystems in the ocean

Buoyancy-driven underwater gliders are increasingly becoming a critical science tool in oceanography. As the number of groups using gliders has increased there has been debate about the operational success of these systems. Reviewing Rutgers University performance over the last 15 years, we find our gliders have a success rate of 84%. This suggests that gliders are a mature and robust technology. Proposed future global telecommunication networks will dramatically increase the speed to transmit data, which will be critical for adaptive sampling. The utility of gliders for all facets of marine research is increasing as the number of sensors available for glider applications expands to include physical, chemical, and biological sensors. Currently available sensors span most trophic levels and the ability to maintain a cost-effective sustained presence in the ocean measuring ecosystem dynamics will enable critical and exciting science.