海洋观测与调查的科学活动为中国海洋事业的金方位发展提供了重要的基础资料和科学依据。科学技术的发展使得海洋科学调查方法不断面临新的变革。水下滑翔机，作为目前国际上的研究热点，欧洲对其发展及应用给予了高度关注，并在法律规制方面开始进行深入探讨。中国对于水下滑翔机研究起步较晚，尚未广泛应用，对其法律规制更是鲜有涉及。通过对欧洲水下滑翔机发展应用现状的介绍，详细分析了水下滑翔机的应用在目前国际法律体系中存在的法律规制问题，介绍了欧洲正在开展的相关工作，希望为中国相关规定的制定提供参考和借鉴，保障中国海洋调查新方法的顺利应用。

Marine observation and investigation offer the fundamental data and scientific evidence for our overall ocean development. The technological progress has constantly made the way in which ocean observation and investigation are conducted change. Underwater gliders, as the current international research focus, has highly attracted attention in Europe. In the meantime, the discussion with regard to their application as well as legal regulation is underway. The relative research and application in China are not so advanced that the legal regulation could be dealt with. This article has examined the legal problems arising when underwater gliders are employed and introduced the current research in Europe.