A new underwater robot called Redwing (Slocum Sentinel Glider) has begun a historical mission to autonomously circumnavigate the globe. It launched on October 10 from Woods Hole, Massachusetts. Redwing will drift along ocean currents using buoyancy control and occasional thrust, relaying data every 8–12 hours via satellite. Over about five years, it plans to journey ~73,000 km, tracing a route similar to Magellan’s voyage. Along the way, it will collect ocean data (temperature, salinity, depth) and monitor marine life. The mission aims to advance ocean science, but it faces challenges such as busy shipping routes, harsh seas, and equipment durability.
