Nick LaFave & photojournalist Harry Baker, FOX 21 News

DULUTH - A first–of–a–kind project is underway, under the water of Lake Superior.  An underwater glider is gathering information in a way never before possible on the big lake. 

At its deepest, Lake Superior stretches more than 1,300 feet.  Now, a glider released four days ago by UMD researchers can descend 700 feet.  It operates autonomously, surfacing every three hours.

"At that stage, I can download information from it," says project coordinator, Jay Austin, a professor at UMD.  "I can also send new mission parameters."

The first built for fresh water, its possible applications are many, including water quality measurement.

"Not a big problem here on Lake Superior... But, in other great lakes, drinking water – water quality – is an issue."

The glider cost $70,000, paid for entirely by grant money.  That may sound expensive, but Austin says it's much less expensive to have the glider out there than a research boat.

"We're spending maybe $100 a day for communications and battery packs... Whereas a research boat might costs thousands of dollars a day."

The glider can also succeed where man may not in another area.  When the gales of November... and other weather problems... come crashing.

"But, the glider is going to be perfectly happy out there, regardless of conditions."