The last decade witnessed a revolution in ocean observing capabilities, as new mobile platforms and sensing systems were introduced. It is now possible with autonomous platforms to track water masses, record their biological, physical, optical and chemical properties, and to periodically receive the data at home via satellite telemetry. These platforms and sensing systems will have profound impacts on how we conduct experiments and observations in both the coastal and open oceans. Because of the rapidly evolving capabilities of these systems, there has been -- to date -- no concerted effort to detail scientific opportunities enabled by these new modes of sampling. As the National Science Foundation and other agencies proceed with plans for ocean observing systems, the time is right to develop a plan so that all oceanographers can benefit from the technological advances of mobile observing systems and can participate in future activities.

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