Atlantic Crossing: A Robot's Daring Mission

Produced by Rutgers University, Dena Seidel's documentary focuses on an oceanographic milestone: the 2009 launch of the first autonomous underwater robot to cross the Atlantic Ocean—from New Jersey to Spain. And why did the robot cross the ocean? The missile-shaped, propeller-free “glider” (named The Scarlet Knight, even though it was painted yellow) was fashioned by Rutgers scientists as the deep-sea equivalent of Sputnik, sent forth to conquer a new horizon. Scarlet's trip was not without hiccups; a typo in the computer coding nearly sank it before it left the Jersey shoreline, while a blanket of biological growth halted its progress in the shark-infested waters off the Azores. Since Scarlet did not carry a video camera, Seidel focuses instead on the scientists and engineers behind the project, somewhat charisma-challenged folks who detail their work in monotonous tones when not fighting among themselves. The combination of droning and bickering talking heads and an inanimate object floating in the sea does not exactly make for compelling viewing (the DVD includes both the 55-minute version aired on PBS and a 75-minute director's cut—although either way, it's a long haul). DVD extras include a “making-of” featurette. Not a necessary purchase. Aud: C, P. (P. Hall)