Abstract
Ocean observation is the prerequisite for the human to cognize and develop the ocean. Most autonomous ocean-observation platforms (AOOPs), for their limited endurance, cannot cope with the further application in large range and long-term marine operations. Gliding robots have become one category of the most powerful platforms in ocean observation for their super endurance, with marine renewable energy acquisition or new driving modes. This paper starts with the comparation of the performance characteristics of several typical AOOPs, and introduces the definition and classification of the gliding robots according to their certain features. The research progresses of each gliding robot to date are discussed, including underwater glider, wave glider and multifunction hybrid glider. The prospects for the future development of related technologies in gliding robots are also represented in this paper, which will provide a reference for novel AOOPs’ construction and application selection in ocean observation, based on carrying different sensors.