Gluon Drive

Gluon Drive
This ship part is required for the S.S. Dolphin to escape the planet.
Weight	50
Max. carriers	70 Pikmin
Location	The Distant Spring

The Gluon Drive (グルーオンドライブ^?, lit.: "Gluon Drive") is one of the ship parts in The Distant Spring. It is the heaviest ship part in Pikmin (second heaviest in all Japanese versions of the GameCube and Wii editions).

The Gluon Drive harnesses the power of quark-binding metaphysical gluons. While Olimar doesn't know how it truly works, noting that it's "very scientific," it 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

File:DS texture.png

Location of the Gluon Drive.

The following article or section contains guides. The strategies shown are just suggestions.

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 Yellow Wollywog wandering there. As this is one of the heaviest parts in the game, make sure all the Spotty Bulbears and the Puffy Blowhog have been defeated to ensure the safety of the Pikmin. 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.

• 

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

Trivia

• In real life, gluons are the theoretical forces responsible for holding quarks together. They bind them like glue - hence the name - allowing them to bond into protons and neutrons.
• In international versions of Pikmin, as well as all versions of the Switch port, the Gluon Drive is the heaviest part in the game, requiring 50 Pikmin to carry. In all Japanese versions of the GameCube and Wii ports, however, the Secret Safe outweighs it, requiring 85 Pikmin.

Names in other languages

Language	Name	Meaning
Japanese	グルーオンドライブ? Gruon Doraibu	Gluon Drive
French (NoA)	Unité gluonique	Gluonic unit
French (NoE)	Unité Gluonique	Gluonic Unit
German	Gluon-Antrieb	Gluon Drive
Italian	Unità a gluoni	Gluon unit
Spanish	Emisor de gluones	Gluon emitter