Sure, nothing can replace actual human archaeologists, but Boston Dynamics’ Spot was recently sent to the ancient ruins of Pompeii to inspect, gather and record data. More specifically, it helped identify structural and safety issues while also inspecting tunnels that were excavated by thieves looking for relics. To complement the robot dog, park authorities are using a flying laser scanner drone to perform 3D scans across the 163-acre site.
The official project is called “[email protected]”, and the ultimate goal is to turn the site into a “Smart Archaeological Park,” complete with “intelligent, sustainable, and inclusive management.” To make this happen, park authorities have partnered with several technology companies, including Leica Geosystems (part of Hexagon) and Sprint Reply, a firm specializing in robotics automation.
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Technological advances in the world of robotics, in the form of artificial intelligence and so-called autonomous systems, have produced solutions and innovations typically associated with the industrial and manufacturing world, but which until now had not found an application within archaeological sites due to the heterogeneity of environmental conditions, and the size of the site. Today, thanks to collaboration with high-tech companies and in the wake of these successful experiments, we wish to test the use of these robots in the underground tunnels that were made by illegal excavators and which we are uncovering in the area around Pompeii, as part of a memorandum of understanding with the Public Prosecutor’s Office of Torre Annunziata, led by NunzioFragliasso,” said Gabriel Zuchtriegel, Director General.
