FollowPEARL
Platform for Expanding AUV Exploration to Longer Ranges
An autonomous floating platform that harvests solar energy, recharges underwater robots, and sends near-real-time environmental data from the ocean to the world.
Why PEARL
PEARL is a concept for an autonomous floating servicing platform that could harvest solar energy to recharge autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs) and connect to new-generation high-bandwidth low-Earth orbit (LEO) satellite constellations for near-real-time data transmission.
The current PEARL prototype is a small-scale unit that serves as an autonomous smart data buoy. She is deployed in Pleasant Bay, MA, in partnership with Pleasant Bay Community Boating, constantly collecting environmental quantities about the ocean and atmosphere — such as water and air temperature, humidity, and ambient light intensity. She is completely powered by solar panels and is equipped with an Iridium satellite terminal that relays data back to shore via a satellite connection.
Pleasant Bay, MA
Deployed in partnership with Pleasant Bay Community Boating.
Autonomous smart buoy
Constantly collecting data about the ocean and atmosphere.
Solar + satellite
Fully solar-powered with an Iridium satellite connection.
Solar powered
Runs entirely on solar energy — no shore power needed.
Satellite link
Sends data from the water to shore via satellite.
Environmental data
Measures air and water temperature, humidity, pressure, and more.
AUV support
Designed to one day recharge autonomous underwater vehicles.
How it works
Deploy
PEARL is deployed in the water (e.g. Pleasant Bay).
Sense
Sensors measure temperature, humidity, pressure, light.
Power
Solar panels charge the onboard battery.
Transmit
Iridium satellite sends data to shore in near real time.
See PEARL in action
Watch deployment and operation videos. Play with sound below.
Deployment into Pleasant Bay
Autonomous maneuvering at Deep Pond
What's included
Solar powered
Runs entirely on solar energy — no shore power needed.
Satellite link
Sends data from the water to shore via satellite.
Environmental data
Measures air and water temperature, humidity, pressure, and more.
AUV support
Designed to one day recharge autonomous underwater vehicles.
Where & why
PEARL is deployed in Pleasant Bay, MA, in partnership with Pleasant Bay Community Boating. She acts as an autonomous smart data buoy, constantly collecting environmental data about the ocean and atmosphere.
The project is developed at the Engineering Systems Laboratory, MIT Department of Aeronautics and Astronautics — with a goal to extend the range and usefulness of autonomous ocean exploration for researchers and partners worldwide.
Explore
From live data to research and media — discover what PEARL offers.
Want to see PEARL in action?
View live environmental data from the platform.