Research advances in energy management and harvesting technologies for autonomous profiling floats
Autonomous profiling floats, such as the Argo floats, predominantly rely on battery power for their energy supply. However, the limited energy storage capacity of batteries imposes significant constraints on their operational lifespan, observation frequency, and the integration of advanced sensors,...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2025-05-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Marine Science |
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| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmars.2025.1598701/full |
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| author | Yuxia Yu Yuxia Yu Qunhui Yang Qunhui Yang Qunhui Yang Fuwu Ji Fuwu Ji Wei Zhou |
| author_facet | Yuxia Yu Yuxia Yu Qunhui Yang Qunhui Yang Qunhui Yang Fuwu Ji Fuwu Ji Wei Zhou |
| author_sort | Yuxia Yu |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Autonomous profiling floats, such as the Argo floats, predominantly rely on battery power for their energy supply. However, the limited energy storage capacity of batteries imposes significant constraints on their operational lifespan, observation frequency, and the integration of advanced sensors, which has emerged as a critical bottleneck hindering long-term autonomous observations. To address this issue, researchers have explored two primary technical routes: optimizing energy consumption and harvesting energy. This review first systematically analyzes the research progress concerning the energy consumption characteristics of autonomous profiling floats. It then summarizes the key technical strategies and advancements in current energy consumption optimization efforts across four domains: hydraulic system, sensor system, satellite communication system, and control algorithm. Subsequently, the paper reviews the developments and challenges associated with self-powered autonomous profiling floats, with a particular focus on the application of phase-change-material (PCM)-based thermal energy harvesting technology. Finally, the paper proposes that future endeavors should concentrate on advancing energy management and energy development technologies. These include the adoption of Edge Artificial Intelligence (Edge AI) technology for intelligent energy management, flexible solar cells and underwater photovoltaic technologies, Triboelectric Nanogenerator (TENG) technology for wave energy harvesting, novel thermal energy harvesting techniques, and hybrid energy harvesting solutions. By promoting energy diversification and enhancing efficiency, these innovations can strengthen the energy security for autonomous profiling floats and meet the increasing demands for scientific observation. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-c8d67cd03af5403bb229954c809f03e7 |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 2296-7745 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-05-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Marine Science |
| spelling | doaj-art-c8d67cd03af5403bb229954c809f03e72025-08-20T02:30:59ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Marine Science2296-77452025-05-011210.3389/fmars.2025.15987011598701Research advances in energy management and harvesting technologies for autonomous profiling floatsYuxia Yu0Yuxia Yu1Qunhui Yang2Qunhui Yang3Qunhui Yang4Fuwu Ji5Fuwu Ji6Wei Zhou7State Key Laboratory of Marine Geology, Tongji University, Shanghai, ChinaProject Management Office of China National Scientific Seafloor Observatory, Tongji University, Shanghai, ChinaState Key Laboratory of Marine Geology, Tongji University, Shanghai, ChinaProject Management Office of China National Scientific Seafloor Observatory, Tongji University, Shanghai, ChinaLaoshan Laboratory, Qingdao, ChinaState Key Laboratory of Marine Geology, Tongji University, Shanghai, ChinaProject Management Office of China National Scientific Seafloor Observatory, Tongji University, Shanghai, ChinaSchool of Electronic and Information Engineering, Tongji University, Shanghai, ChinaAutonomous profiling floats, such as the Argo floats, predominantly rely on battery power for their energy supply. However, the limited energy storage capacity of batteries imposes significant constraints on their operational lifespan, observation frequency, and the integration of advanced sensors, which has emerged as a critical bottleneck hindering long-term autonomous observations. To address this issue, researchers have explored two primary technical routes: optimizing energy consumption and harvesting energy. This review first systematically analyzes the research progress concerning the energy consumption characteristics of autonomous profiling floats. It then summarizes the key technical strategies and advancements in current energy consumption optimization efforts across four domains: hydraulic system, sensor system, satellite communication system, and control algorithm. Subsequently, the paper reviews the developments and challenges associated with self-powered autonomous profiling floats, with a particular focus on the application of phase-change-material (PCM)-based thermal energy harvesting technology. Finally, the paper proposes that future endeavors should concentrate on advancing energy management and energy development technologies. These include the adoption of Edge Artificial Intelligence (Edge AI) technology for intelligent energy management, flexible solar cells and underwater photovoltaic technologies, Triboelectric Nanogenerator (TENG) technology for wave energy harvesting, novel thermal energy harvesting techniques, and hybrid energy harvesting solutions. By promoting energy diversification and enhancing efficiency, these innovations can strengthen the energy security for autonomous profiling floats and meet the increasing demands for scientific observation.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmars.2025.1598701/fullautonomous profiling floatsArgolow-power strategyenergy harvesting technologyblue energyin situ oceanic observations |
| spellingShingle | Yuxia Yu Yuxia Yu Qunhui Yang Qunhui Yang Qunhui Yang Fuwu Ji Fuwu Ji Wei Zhou Research advances in energy management and harvesting technologies for autonomous profiling floats Frontiers in Marine Science autonomous profiling floats Argo low-power strategy energy harvesting technology blue energy in situ oceanic observations |
| title | Research advances in energy management and harvesting technologies for autonomous profiling floats |
| title_full | Research advances in energy management and harvesting technologies for autonomous profiling floats |
| title_fullStr | Research advances in energy management and harvesting technologies for autonomous profiling floats |
| title_full_unstemmed | Research advances in energy management and harvesting technologies for autonomous profiling floats |
| title_short | Research advances in energy management and harvesting technologies for autonomous profiling floats |
| title_sort | research advances in energy management and harvesting technologies for autonomous profiling floats |
| topic | autonomous profiling floats Argo low-power strategy energy harvesting technology blue energy in situ oceanic observations |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmars.2025.1598701/full |
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