Liquid Robotics earned a good deal of funding for their innovative water robot device, called Wave Glider. The total funds generated were around $ 22 million in Series D financing.
wave glider
The Wave Glider is a hybrid robot that is capable of working on the sea surface as well as underwater. It is a self-powered device, which can be used in data collection in ocean observations, intelligence and reconnaissance. It derives power from the sea wave motion, which it converts to fuel for moving forward.
The robotic unit is made up of a submerged glider having wing-shaped panels and a surface float, which is connected with a tether of 7 m in length. The glider is not capable of moving fast, moreover, it is designed for applications such as data collection and transmission, which do not require speed. In addition to deriving power from the waves, the glider is equipped with solar panels for charging the battery, electronic panels and payloads, which are present onboard. The performance of the glider is currently being tested by Liquid Robotics in different environments such as oceanographic facilities, scientific research, atmospheric observations etc. Wave Glider’s suitability for commercial operations including oil and gas explorations and for national security is being explored as well.
Source: http://liquidr.com/