OUR BORING ROBOT
General Dynamics Mission Systems
Our team is proposing an automated tunnel-boring machine that will change the way fiber optic cable is laid. We’re pioneering a new path for easy and affordable cable laying, through the use of exciting advances in robotics.
PROBLEM
Currently, there is no time-efficient or cost-effective way to lay cables that carry data underground.
Trenching is the most common method of laying fiber optic cables, which can be costly.
SOLUTION
Our solution, The Boring Robot, will create a cable-laying method that is less disruptive than trenching to society and the environment.
The intent of the Boring Robot is to make a method of laying data cables that is superior to trenching in terms of cost, disruption of environment, and ease of use.
DESCRIPTION
The Boring Robot will:
Bore a 4-6 in. diameter tunnel for a 4 in. cable
Solidify the tunnel to prevent collapse
Autonomously navigate to an endpoint set by the user while avoiding obstacles in its path
Create at least 50 m of tunnel in 12 hours
FEATURES
DRILL SUBSYSTEM
6” Earth Auger Drill
AmpFlow High-Performance DC Motor
TREAD SUBSYSTEM
3” TankChainTM Steel Treads
MakerBeam Miniature 80/20’s
TURNING SUBSYSTEM
2 Degrees of Freedom
3 Motors
1 Planetary Gear Set
LOCALIZATION & NAVIGATION SUBSYSTEMS
Torque + Force Sensors
9 DoF Inertial Measurement Unit + Camera
