[LUM#2] Diving on the Moon

[LUM Magazine] - Published on March 8, 2016 in Science-Society

After centuries at the bottom of the sea, the Lune, a warship from Louis XIV's fleet, has been revealed to archaeologists thanks to underwater robots developed at the Montpellier Laboratory of Computer Science, Robotics, and Microelectronics (LIRMM).

The Moon lies at the bottom of the sea. This warship from Louis XIV's fleet sank in 1664 in the harbor of Toulon, taking with it weapons, tableware, and the crew's personal belongings, precious reminders of a bygone era that now lie 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. The solution? Underwater robots, like Speedy. Equipped with cameras, it is the archaeologist's eyes. But also his hand. "Speedy is equipped with an articulated hand fitted with a pressure sensor ," explains the expedition's scientific director. This sophisticated robot can grasp a fragile plate, squeezing it just enough to hold it between its metal fingers without breaking it. It's a world first and the beginning of a new era for underwater archaeology, which will now be able to explore shipwrecks at ever greater depths.

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