[2] On November 30, 2009, the first SOLO-TREC prototype was deployed 161 kilometers southwest of Honolulu by a group of scientists and engineers from JPL and Scripps.
[1] SOLO-TREC draws upon the ocean's thermal energy as it alternately encounters warm surface water and colder conditions at depth.
[4] This oil periodically drives a hydraulic motor that generates electricity and recharges the vehicle's batteries.
[4] SOLO-TREC has completed more than 450 dives from the ocean surface to a depth of 500 meters (1,640 feet) and is reporting temperature and salinity profiles three times per day.
Its thermal recharging engine produces about 1.7 watt-hours, or 6,100 joules, of energy per dive, enough electricity to operate the vehicle’s science instruments, GPS receiver, communications device and buoyancy-control pump.