Longest journey by an unmanned autonomous surface vehicle

Longest journey by an unmanned autonomous surface vehicle
Who
Benjamin Franklin (Liquid Robotics)
What
14,703 kilometre(s)
Where
Australia (,Lady Musgrave Island)
When
Age Restriction: Applications for this record title will only be accepted if the applicant is 16 years of age or over.
On 14 February 2013, "Benjamin Franklin", the Wave Glider® - an unmanned autonomous surface vehicle developed by US company Liquid Robotics, successfully completed a 7,939-nautical mile (14,703-km) journey across the Pacific Ocean from San Francisco, CA, USA, to Lady Musgrave Island, Queensland Australia. "Benjamin Franklin", named in honour of a founding father of the USA who charted and named the Gulf Stream, is one of four Wave Gliders sent in pairs to Australia and Japan. The Wave Gliders convert wave energy into thrust and use solar energy to generate electricity for sensors, communications and navigation. The "Benjamin Franklin" covered an actual distance of 9,380.490 nautical miles (17,372.667 km), with 1,441.439 nautical miles (2,669.545 km) being the distance accumulated during the orbit of scientific moorings and loitering.