In July 2025, as Typhoon "Butterfly" swept across the western Pacific Ocean, a special "ocean sentinel" was carrying out its mission amid towering waves. It made no engine noise, emitted no fuel, and propelled itself forward solely using wave energy.
Green DNA, Zero-Carbon Navigation
The core of the wave glider's effectiveness as an environmental monitoring tool lies in its energy acquisition method. It relies entirely on natural marine energy: wave energy provides propulsion power, while solar energy powers the sensing, navigation, and communication systems.
This dual-energy system frees the vessel from reliance on fossil fuels, achieving true zero-emission operation. Compared to fuel-powered monitoring ships that require frequent refueling, the wave glider offers a revolutionary advantage in environmental performance.
The "Black Pearl" wave glider developed by Professor Sun Xiujun's team at the Qingdao National Laboratory for Marine Science and Technology weighs only 50-100 kilograms but can operate continuously at sea for over a year, with a range of tens of thousands of kilometers. This ultra-long endurance makes it an ideal platform for long-term marine observation.
Deep-sea sentinel, breaking through observation barriers
In July 2025, when Typhoon "Butterfly" ravaged the western Pacific, the wave glider once again demonstrated its value. It successfully traversed the typhoon-affected area, transmitting real-time data on wind speed, waves, and ocean currents, providing invaluable firsthand information for typhoon forecasting.
This monitoring capability in extreme environments addresses a long-standing challenge in marine science. Traditional observation methods, such as satellite remote sensing and buoy monitoring, struggle to obtain continuous high-precision data from the core of typhoons, while manned vessels face extremely high risks when entering these areas. The wave glider fills this critical gap.
In 2021, during the "one rocket, nine satellites" launch mission of the Long March 11 sea-launched carrier rocket, the wave glider provided precise hydro-meteorological data for the launch area. It also participated in major scientific tasks such as studying the formation patterns of the Kuroshio Current and monitoring nuclear radioactive substances in ocean currents around Fukushima.
Chinese innovation leads the way in blue technology
China's wave glider technology has developed into a series of products. In addition to the "Black Pearl" series, there is the "Sea Sentinel" small glider, with a total mass of only 60 kilograms, suitable for large-scale deployment; the "Sea Manta" glider developed by the 710 Research Institute of China Shipbuilding Industry Corporation completed a 92-day, 3,242-kilometer navigation test in the Yellow Sea.
All these gliders are equipped with the Beidou satellite communication system, enabling autonomous navigation, path tracking, and virtual anchoring at designated points. Although the average speed of 0.5-1 meters per second may seem slow, it enables continuous monitoring over vast maritime areas.
In August 2023, the "Jiaolong" wave energy-powered glider developed by Shanghai Jiao Tong University achieved a new breakthrough. By adopting photovoltaic-wave complementary power generation technology, its power supply capacity was increased by 2-3 times, addressing the issue of limited power supply in traditional wave gliders and creating conditions for carrying higher-power devices.
Currently, multiple countries have deployed wave gliders for applications such as coastal environmental monitoring and polar scientific research. As technology evolves, their payload capacity and data transmission efficiency will further improve, injecting strong momentum into the development of a "zero-carbon" marine observation network. This will enable humanity to achieve true harmony with nature while safeguarding the blue planet. Wave glider technology has become a green calling card for China's participation in global marine governance.
