The underwater robot that senses: The machine that challenges the depths and amazes scientists
Although we often look at space as the final frontier, a revolutionary advancement in robotics now allows us to explore and touch its secrets… literally.
An underwater mission with human senses
Developed by the Stanford robotics team, this humanoid robot is much more than a submersible automaton. It features a haptic interface that allows operators to feel, from the surface, what it touches in the depths of the sea. This innovation not only enhances precision when manipulating fragile objects but also transforms the exploration experience into something tactile, immersive, and deeply human.
Controlled remotely, the robot defies extreme pressures and unexplored environments. According to its creator, Oussama Khatib, what truly sets it apart is its “delicacy in grasping and moving objects as if it were an extension of the human body.”
Lost treasures and the archaeology of the future
Among its most striking achievements, the robot has made it possible to access previously unreachable areas without human risk and with unprecedented precision, revolutionizing archaeology. In 2022, it unearthed a treasure trove of artifacts from a sunken shipwreck. All while researchers controlled it from a boat, witnessing in real-time what the robot observed in the depths of the ocean.
The ocean as a new remote laboratory
But the true potential of this technology extends beyond individual missions. According to Khatib, “Just as we study space with telescopes and probes, we will be able to study the sea with this type of robots.” In a time when the oceans face unprecedented threats, this tool emerges as a key for their conservation.
