Claire Dune

Claire Dune is an Assistant Professor at the University of Toulon, affiliated with the COSMER Laboratory (Mechanical and Robotic Systems Design Laboratory). Her research focuses on robotics, computer vision, and underwater systems, with applications in environmental monitoring and human-robot interaction. She teaches computer science, numerical methods, image processing, and visual servoing.

• Institution: University of Toulon
• Laboratory: COSMER (Mechanical and Robotic Systems Design Laboratory)
• Academic Rank: Assistant Professor
• Email: claire.dune@univ-tln.fr

Her research centers on perception for robot control, particularly in underwater robotics and computer vision. Key interests include visual servoing, SLAM, gesture recognition for diver-robot interaction, and autonomous capabilities in real-world marine environments. She applies deep learning and sensor fusion techniques to enhance underwater visual perception and navigation.

The recent publications demonstrate a strong trend in underwater robotics, with focus areas including tether dynamics (catenary modeling), ROV localization using umbilicals and IMUs, long-term visual localization in deep-sea environments, and color restoration in underwater imagery. Her work bridges theory and real-world application, contributing datasets like 'Eiffel Tower' for benchmarking and advancing multi-agent SLAM systems.

Claire Dune has contributed to leading journals such as IEEE Robotics and Automation Letters, Ocean Engineering, and The International Journal of Robotics Research. Her editorial and survey work highlights her leadership in the domain of deformable object manipulation.

• Retrieval of benthic habitat abundance and bathymetry from hyperspectral data (DESIS) in shallow waters
• ROV localization using ballasted umbilical equipped with IMUs
• MAM3SLAM: Towards underwater robust multi-agent visual SLAM
• Eiffel Tower: A Deep-Sea Underwater Dataset for Long-Term Visual Localization
• Challenges and Outlook in Robotic Manipulation of Deformable Objects

Claire Dune actively collaborates with researchers such as Vincent Hugel, Juliette Drupt, and Andrew Comport. She has supervised or co-supervised numerous research projects and publications, particularly in underwater robotics and assistive technologies. Her work involves experimental robotics and system integration, often validated in real marine environments.

She leads research in the COSMER laboratory focused on underwater robotics, including projects on tethered ROVs, diver-robot communication via gesture recognition, and environmental monitoring using visual and hyperspectral data. Her team develops practical solutions for marine science and offshore operations, emphasizing robustness and autonomy.