Survey on the Integration of Robotics in Archaeology
Panagiota Kyriakoulia, Anastasios Kazolias, Dimitrios Konidaris, Panagiotis C. Kokkinos · Preprints.org · 2025
This paper explores the integration of robotic technologies and UAV-based LiDAR systems in archaeological research, highlighting their transformative role in excavation, documentation, and cultural heritage preservation. By combining high-precision remote sensing with autonomous and semiautonomous robotic systems, archaeologists are now able to access inaccessible environments, automate artifact analysis, and reconstruct fragmented remains with unprecedented accuracy. Applications include subterranean exploration through articulated robots (e.g., the Djedi Project in the Great Pyramid of Giza), underwater archaeological documentation via AUVs and ROVs, and restoration workflows supported by robotic arms and AI (e.g., the RePAIR and RASCAL systems). Social robots also enhance educational and curatorial functions in museums, as demonstrated by case studies from the Smithsonian and the Archaeological Museum of Thessaloniki. Moreover, UAV-based LiDAR has enabled large-scale archaeological discoveries, such as hidden settlements in the Amazon rainforest, by revealing features invisible to traditional methods. While the paper emphasizes the potential of robotics in archaeological research, it also discusses key technological, economic, and ethical limitations. It concludes that the effective adoption of these innovations depends on interdisciplinary collaboration, context-sensitive deployment, and a balanced commitment to scientific progress and cultural integrity.