Deep-sea robots
With their articulated hands that allow them to grasp objects, robot archaeologists are pushing the boundaries of underwater exploration. It was a strange diving team that plunged into Toulon harbor in mid-April... A colossus measuring 3 meters and weighing 180 kilos, followed by a more discreet companion.
Their names: Ocean One and Leonard. What makes them special? They are robots. Revolutionary robots that push the boundaries of exploration and precision underwater work.
For Ocean One's maiden voyage, the robots dived in Toulon harbor to explore the wreck of La Lune. This warship from Louis XIV's fleet sank in 1664, taking with it weapons, tableware, and the crew's personal belongings—precious relics of a bygone era now lying 90 meters below the surface. A treasure trove for archaeologists. And a challenge for researchers:"Beyond a depth of 50 meters, diving to explore shipwrecks becomes too dangerous and too complex," explains Vincent Creuze, a researcher at the Montpellier Laboratory of Computer Science, Robotics and Microelectronics (LIRMM).
The first underwater humanoid
Ocean One is the world's first underwater humanoid robot. With its three-fingered hands, the Stanford University robot is capable of picking up precious and fragile objects from the seabed and bringing them to the surface without breaking them. This delicate operation is made possible by revolutionary technology, "haptic" systems that allow the robot's pilot to feel the pressure exerted on its metal hand, thus translating the "sensations" perceived by the robot's arm.
During its dive, Ocean One was assisted by the robot Leonard, developed entirely by LIRMM. Its mission: to support the humanoid's umbilical cord, avoiding the disruptive effects of sea currents and providing the pilot with a bird's-eye view.
This fruitful collaboration heralds a new era for underwater archaeology, which will now be able to explore wrecks at ever greater depths.