Archimedes’ 2,000-year-old vessel-weighing principles are being used in artificial intelligence by researchers today.

The Greek scientist is supposed to have been so excited by his discovery of water displacement while in the bath that he forgot to get dressed before running down the streets yelling ‘Eureka!’

Although accurate draught readings are essential for ensuring a ship’s stability in indicating how much cargo it is carrying and what depths it can safely navigate, because these measurements are still obtained by eye they can be wide open to misreadings because of factors such as waves, faded markings, lighting and marine growth. Because both sides of a vessel must be checked, the process can sometimes take hours.