Discovery of the Tapanuli Caves Skeleton

Discovery of the Skeleton

• In 2006, German cave divers entered the cave's opening 10 meters underwater and swam 550 meters through dark tunnels with sharp rocks.
• At the bottom of the cave, they unexpectedly found a skeleton.

Initial Research

• Excited by the discovery, the divers told local archeologists, who began to study and record the bones.
• For three years, researchers dived into the cave to study the bones in their original resting place.

Retrieval and Preservation

• In 2010, the bones were brought to the surface.
• Initially, the bones were kept in plastic bags of cave water.
• Later, they were placed in a special room for a year to dry out, to keep the bones strong and prevent breakage.

Further Analysis

• Researchers scanned the bones and created 3-D computer models of each bone to investigate further.
• The skeleton is hoped to provide insight into how the first Americans arrived in the region and who they were.

Robotic Camouflage

• The robot has its own camouflage ability, allowing it to go unnoticed in certain environments.
• It is made of silicon rubber and resembles a transparent slug.

Camouflage Mechanism

• The robot's body is connected to a remote control system with a series of plastic tubes.
• At the push of a button, different color dyes flow through the tubes to change the robot's color and blend with its surroundings.
• The dye can also be used to make the robot stand out, such as by using bright colors or making it glow in the dark.

Movement and Navigation

• The robot moves by forcing air into its tiny "legs."

Potential Uses

• Researchers believe the robots could be used for search and rescue missions due to their lightweight, flexible, and inexpensive design.
• They can crawl into small spaces, such as rubble, to search for people in need of rescue.
• The robots can also light up to help rescuers locate people, making them easier to find.
• If the robots are destroyed, they are relatively cheap to replace.

Discovery of the Skeleton

• In 2006, German cave divers entered the cave's opening 10 meters underwater and swam 550 meters through dark tunnels with sharp rocks.
• At the bottom of the cave, they unexpectedly found a skeleton.

Initial Research

• Excited by the discovery, the divers told local archeologists, who began to study and record the bones.
• For three years, researchers dived into the cave to study the bones in their original resting place.

Retrieval and Preservation

• In 2010, the bones were brought to the surface.
• Initially, the bones were kept in plastic bags of cave water.
• Later, they were placed in a special room for a year to dry out, to keep the bones strong and prevent breakage.

Further Analysis

• Researchers scanned the bones and created 3-D computer models of each bone to investigate further.
• The skeleton is hoped to provide insight into how the first Americans arrived in the region and who they were.