Abstract
Underwater gliders, which are able to propel themselves and make observations down to 1，000m depth, have been recently introduced in Japan. Perspectives on offshore applications and possibility of coastal applications will be discussed based on our experiences of underwater glider observations. While underwater gliders are able to conduct high-resolution observations at intervals less than a few kilometers, there is a limitation of observation coverage because of their slow movements. Observation systems simultaneously using multiple underwater gliders or combining underwater gliders with mooring systems are desirable. Since fisheries are very active around Japanese coastal regions, it is essential to develop smaller underwater gliders. It is desirable to evolve underwater gliders specifically for coastal observation by integrating technologies that have been domestically developed.
