A team member in the middle of debugging application for the uXRF scanner Photos: Jinan Laboratory of Applied Nuclear Science

TheMKsports last time you saw a robot with six mechanical arms scanning relics, it was probably in a sci-fi blockbuster. But now, it's a reality in a Chinese laboratory acting as an archeology "explorer."

With precise movements, a six-axis robotic arm carefully follows a pre-programmed trajectory, meticulously scanning every detail of a blue-and-white porcelain vase. In a laboratory at the Jinan Laboratory of Applied Nuclear Science in East China's Shandong Province, a team of young researchers is working on this groundbreaking innovation - the world's first "surface adaptive uXRF scanner" designed for artifact analysis. 

Through intelligent algorithmic analysis, engineers are able to determine the artifact's elemental composition and distribution, producing a "DNA report." 

This report provides a scientific foundation for the preservation and restoration of cultural relics.

X-ray scanning of relics

"For curved and uneven surfaces, we've scanned many artifacts at the Palace Museum, such as enamel vases and gold-and-silver artifacts. At the Taosi Site in Linfen, North China's Shanxi Province, we scanned an important relic, a measuring tool, which had a particularly irregular surface," Xu Qiong, a researcher at the Institute of High Energy Physics at China's Academy of Science, told the Global Times.

"China has an incredibly diverse range of cultural relics - jade, ceramics, bronzes, seals, and lacquerware, to name a few. Their complex shapes and intricate craftsmanship demand more advanced scanning equipment," Xu said. Their initial goal was to develop a device capable of high-precision surface element analysis for artifacts with curved or uneven surfaces.

By 2021, Xu had already spent years researching X-ray imaging and its application in cultural relics and archaeology. At the time, the most advanced international technology could only perform flat scans or single-point elemental analysis on planar objects like oil paintings. This was far from meeting the needs of China's archaeological and cultural heritage work.

Unlike existing 3D scanning technologies, which primarily focus on optical surface imaging and structural reconstruction using X-ray and CT technology, this device reveals the elemental distribution on the surface of objects.

Xu recalled that at the time there was no domestic or international precedent from which to draw. "In discussions with the Palace Museum, we learned that most X-ray fluorescence spectrometers used by cultural institutions in China are imported and designed primarily for flat-surface studies, such as those focused on Western oil paintings. These devices face significant challenges when applied to China's predominantly curved artifacts."

To upgrade from single-point and planar scanning to full 360-degree spatial scanning, the team considered using robotic arms and depth cameras.

Song Shaoyang, one of the team's engineers, noted that greater detail in scanning produces more accurate data. However, the robotic arm must never come into contact with the artifact. 

"The value of cultural relics means there's no room for trial and error," Song said. To ensure the safety of the artifacts, the team's software and mechanical engineers implemented multiple protective mechanisms.

A research staff memeber works on a scan process of the chime stand at the archaeological site of Wuwangdun tomb in April 2024, in East China's Anhui Province. 

Intelligent algorithms

For hardware, they selected high-performance domestic cameras to ensure stable foundational data. On the software side, they optimized scanning paths using intelligent algorithms.

Three years on, Song still remembers the first artifact they scanned using the device: A cloisonné enamel kylin (a mythical creature in Chinese legend) artifact from the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911), provided by the Palace Museum. The artifact's intricate design, craftsmanship, and materials posed a significant challenge to the device's scanning and analytical capabilities.

When the team carefully placed the statue on the detection platform and activated the device, everyone in the room was on edge. The results did not disappoint - the meticulous scanning and analysis produced a detailed elemental report. Xu shared that the device has been applied to various archaeological and cultural institutions since 2024, including the Wuwangdun Site in Huainan, East China's Anhui Province, the Palace Museum, and the Taosi Site in North China's Shanxi Province. It has been used to scan artifacts ranging from lacquerware and enamel, to ancient swords, stone relics, and gold-and-silver objects.

Recently, the team, led by Chen Zhiqiang, took the device to the Wuwangdun tomb excavation cemetery. There, the team conducted multi-surface scans of the chime stand, successfully reconstructing the complete elemental distribution of its painted surface.

Their analysis of the chime stand's intricate beast face design that amazed archaeologists. The main pigment of the beast's face was copper-based, the face itself contained mercury-based pigments, the whites of the eyes and the areas near the ears were calcium-based, and traces of arsenic, though minimal, provided decorative highlights. 

Armed with this report, archaeologists could vividly envision the scenes of ancient warfare and courtly splendor.

The device also revealed groundbreaking insights into the craftsmanship of the chime stand's beast face design. The black base and red lacquer had traditionally been thought to involve layering carbon black pigment followed by vermilion to depict facial features. However, elemental analysis using the device unveiled new components that challenged prior assumptions. "We've made several upgrades to the device based on previous applications and have essentially completed the next-generation iteration, which will be rolled out this year," Xu said. "Our team is made up of dynamic and innovative young researchers, full of determination and a problem-solving spirit. In the future, we'll develop more specialized devices to tackle interdisciplinary challenges."