This weekend, the world’s unique underwater robot will be launched: Bathybot. It will remain at a depth of 2400 meters for several years and will be located 40 km off the coast, near Toulon.

The robot will dive to a depth of 2,400 meters for several years to explore the depths of the sea and observe the effects of global warming. What he is going to film at the bottom of the sea is quite unique: if you go 2400 meters above sea level thanks to cars and submarines, as CNRS researcher Christine Tamborini at the Institute of Mediterranean Oceanography explains, you will not stay there: the knowledge we “We use ocean-going ships, it’s a specific point, it’s a chapter.”

“The idea here is to try to study in the medium and long term, and as a result see seasonal changes, possibly also to see exceptional phenomena that we do not know or do not know well.”

Christian Tamburini, CNRS researcher at franceinfo

However, Bathybot does not have much appearance. This is a small jig a little less than 300 kg in yellow that is mounted on the rail. In a vague world, he will advance on a precipice plain and connect to an underwater laboratory already installed at the diving site. It will remain at least two years before the first ascent, hence, in this deep world, resistant materials are used. Has the least sensitivity to corrosion. So titanium, with resins that are kept deep. “

Identify bioluminescence organisms

During its mission, the small robot allows scientists to advance their knowledge of the deep sea and global warming. Christian Tambourine hopes to bring new elements to the phenomenon seen in these deep seas: bioluminescence, the natural light underwater. “What are bioluminescent creatures at the end of the Mediterranean? We have very, very little information. We hope to have images that will allow us to better identify them.”

Source :francetvinfo