A recent paradigm explains that, in addition to the gravitational pump, the action of physically or animal driven pumps also leads to the export of carbon from the euphotic zone (EZ) to the twilight zone (TZ) and its sequestration below. Closely linked to these transfer mechanisms, carbon transformation in the TZ is highly dependent on the coupled EZ-TZ processes, the nature and size of particles, and the impact of zooplankton. Observationally, these pumping mechanisms, as well as the coupled EZ-TZ processes, are poorly constrained. They occur over a wide range of spatial and temporal scales that have been difficult to explore so far. The REFINE (Robots Explore Plankton-driven Flux in the marine twIlight zoNE) project aims at conducting long-term robotic process studies to develop an integrated understanding of the various pumping mechanisms and particle-related processes. REFINE has developed a jumbo BGC-Argo float that carries, in addition to the standard sensor package, a transmissometer, a Underwater Vision Profiler (UVP) sensor and a combo of hyperspectral upwelling radiance and downwelling irradiance sensors. The transmissometer will continuously record the gravity flux and allow a better constraint of the phytoplankton community composition at the surface. The UVP will quantify particle size spectra and zooplankton biomass. Finally, hyperspectral radiometers will help in quantifying the composition of optically significant substances including phytoplankton communities at the ocean surface and will link with similar measurements performed by Ocean Color satellites. Presently 22 REFINE floats are being deployed (2022-2023) in 9 oceanic regions representative of the diversity of biogeochemical conditions prevailing in the global ocean. Results of first deployments in the Labrador Sea and Tropical Indian Ocean will be presented, including some showing the interest in measuring biooptical properties during the float drift. In fine, the unique and interoperable REFINE dataset will be used to establish regional carbon flux budgets and to understand the physical and planktonic mechanisms involved in the EZ-TZ linkage. Ultimately, these regional, multi-source observations made by the REFINE robots will be used as the basis for an attempt to scale up to the global scale, including through the use of artificial intelligence methods.