Video: Drone completes epic Pacific crossing

A 14 ton autonomous vessel, the Saildrone Surveyor, has just completed a successful crossing of the Pacific Ocean. Powered mostly by wind and solar energy, the drone made the crossing in 28 days and travelled an estimated 2,250 nautical miles.

En route the vessel mapped 6,400 square miles of seafloor. The data it collected will be used to better understand climate change, to develop offshore renewable energy and to address issues of maritime safety and natural resource management.

“This successful maiden voyage marks a revolution in our ability to understand our planet,” said Richard Jenkins, Saildrone founder and CEO. “We have solved the challenge of reliable long-range, large-payload remote maritime operations. Offshore survey can now be accomplished without a large ship and crew.”