Gluon Drive

Gluon Drive
This is a mandatory ship part.
Weight	50
Max. carriers	70 Pikmin
Location	The Distant Spring

The Gluon Drive is one of the ship parts in The Distant Spring, and it is the heaviest ship part in Pikmin. The Gluon Drive uses quark-binding metaphysical gluons and is very scientific but makes the S.S. Dolphin lift off with a roar. When collected, the Gluon Drive makes up the top part of the hull, with the large rectangular hole in the center being where the cockpit goes.

Collecting the part

Location of the part on the radar. Click for a bigger image.

The following article or section contains guides. The strategies presented may not be the only ones or the best ones.

It is found near two bridges, one near the part and the other one on the opposite side. Build both and defeat the Shearwigs found near the part.The second bridge requires Blue Pikmin to be built, as you must cross water to reach it, and they can be used to defeat the Wollywog wandering there. As this is the heaviest part in the game, make sure all the Bulbears and the Puffy Blowhog have been defeated to ensure the Pikmin's safety. It takes 50 Pikmin to lift.

It is possible to retrieve this ship part without building both bridges. You can build just the bridge on the Gluon Drive's side, let some Pikmin carry it until the end of the bridge, and whistle them back, so the part stays on the tip of the bridge. Then, have Pikmin carry one of the Shearwig corpses behind the Gluon Drive. On their way, they'll bump against it and push it into the water, where it can be retrieved like normal.

Notes

Olimar's monologs

“I've found the Gluon Drive!

Using the quark-binding metaphysical properties of gluons, this device... Well, it's...very scientific, and I don't fully understand it myself, but it was very expensive...

---

I have no idea how this works, but it means the Dolphin will again lift off with its characteristic roar!”

Gallery

• 

  The Gluon Drive.

• 

  The ship's cockpit. The Gluon Drive's rectangular hole is where the cockpit fits.

• 

  In-game description.

• 

  Another in-game description.

• 

  The part being retrieved to the S.S. Dolphin.

Trivia

• In real life, gluons are the theoretical particles responsible for the strong nuclear force. They hold quarks, elementary particles, together like glue, hence the name.
• In international versions of Pikmin, the Gluon Drive is the heaviest part in the game, requiring 50 Pikmin to carry. In the Japanese version, however, the Secret Safe outweighs it, requiring 85 Pikmin.

Names in other languages

Language	Name	Meaning
French (NoA)	Unité gluonique	Gluonic unit
French (NoE)	Unité Gluonique	Gluonic Unit
German	Gluon-Antrieb	Gluon Drive
Italian	Unità a gluoni	Gluon unit
Spanish (NoA)	Emisor de gluones	Gluon emitter
Spanish (NoE)	Emisor de gluones	Gluon emitter