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Deep beneath the ocean surface, sperm whales glide through the dark waters, communicating with bursts of clicking sounds that can travel for miles. Recent research reveals that scientists are now tracking these exchanges in real time using an autonomous underwater robot equipped to listen to whale calls. Sperm whales produce clicks to navigate and hunt, and also emit patterned sequences called “codas,” which are believed to facilitate communication.
The first discovery of sperm whale vocalizations dates back to 1957, but fully understanding their communication has been challenging due to their deep dives—sometimes over a mile deep—and extended periods underwater, making continuous observation difficult.
“The underwater glider uses four hydrophones to listen for whales and then navigates toward them with an advanced system called backseat driving,” explained David Gruber, founder and CEO of Project CETI, a biology and environmental sciences professor at Baruch College, City University of New York, and a co-author of the recent study published in Scientific Reports. “When it detects characteristic sperm whale sounds, the onboard software determines where the sound is coming from and directs the glider to follow the whale.”
This glider is a small robot that modulates its buoyancy, sinking or rising gradually. “Think of it as a silent, long-distance explorer—more like an albatross soaring over the ocean than a motorized vehicle—continuously traveling while listening and gathering data,” Gruber added.
Traditional tracking techniques involve attaching suction tags that fall off after a few days or stationary sensors that lose contact when whales move away. Project CETI also utilizes hydrophones towed from boats, which detect and record underwater sounds. What sets the new robotic system apart is its ability to make real-time decisions while still submerged, rather than merely recording sounds for later analysis.
Previously, scientists could reconstruct a whale’s location after the fact but couldn’t actively follow it in the moment. Now, the system updates the glider’s course dynamically, allowing it to stay with a single whale or group for extended periods—potentially months. This marks a transition from brief encounters to sustained relationships, providing insights into whale social behaviors, coordination, and responses to their environment over time.
This persistent tracking capability could also shed light on how sperm whales communicate, especially in response to human activity. By observing how whale vocalizations change in noisy environments caused by shipping, offshore construction, or fishing, researchers can better understand and mitigate human impact. Linking whale behavior with environmental stressors enables more accurate policies, such as adjusting ship speeds, rerouting vessel traffic, or tightening fishing restrictions to protect these creatures.
Developing this system brings us closer to deciphering a different form of intelligence on Earth—one with profound implications for conservation, communication, and our understanding of life beyond humans. However, challenges remain, including localizing whales precisely, as the glider can detect their direction but not pinpoint their exact position. It also needs to surface periodically to transmit data, limiting long-term, seamless monitoring.
For Gruber, the moment when the glider autonomously responded to a whale’s call was a glimpse into the potential of this technology. “We’re starting to create systems capable of operating independently and engaging with the natural world as it unfolds,” he said.
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