### Busnel Robert
- Born: Mon Sep 14 1914, Toulon, France
- Nationality: French
- Occupation: Engineer, inventor
**Early life and education**
Robert Busnel was born in Toulon, France on September 14, 1914. He studied at the École Polytechnique in Paris, graduating in 1937.
**Career**
After graduating, Busnel worked as an engineer for the French Navy. In 1940, he joined the Free French Forces and served in North Africa and Europe. After the war, he continued to work for the Navy, developing new technologies for submarine warfare.
In 1952, Busnel founded the Laboratoire d'Acoustique Sous-Marine (LAMS) at the École Polytechnique. LAMS is a leading research center in underwater acoustics. Busnel served as director of LAMS until 1984.
**Inventions**
Busnel is credited with inventing the sonar dome, a device that allows submarines to use sonar while submerged. He also developed a number of other technologies for underwater acoustics, including:
- The variable-depth sonar
- The towed sonar array
- The synthetic aperture sonar
**Awards and honors**
Busnel received numerous awards and honors for his work, including:
- The Medal of Honor of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE)
- The Gold Medal of the Acoustical Society of America
- The Grand Cross of the Legion of Honor (France)
**Later life**
Busnel retired from LAMS in 1984. He continued to work as a consultant and advisor on underwater acoustics until his death in 2008.
**Legacy**
Robert Busnel is considered one of the pioneers of underwater acoustics. His inventions and research have made a significant contribution to the field.