The engineers at the Complutense University of Madrid has developed the concept of a robot that can dig tunnels for laying gas and water pipes and various cables. Each time dig trenches for pipes and wires — is quite tedious and long, so the developers decided to shift these tasks to robots, on a prototype which they work for three years.
Robot called BADGER (roBot for Autonomous unDerGround trenchless opERations). It is like a big snake, consisting of several segments. On the “nose” of the robot located a drill rig that allows you to dig tunnels and break the stuck stones. The robot moves forward using a propulsion mechanisms, which are equipped with every segment that makes up the robot, and waste rock is pumped to the surface using a special pump.
To work had to push through in the finished channel, pipe or otherwise secure the work of a worm, one of the tail segments include installation, which causes the layers of a solution on the tunnel walls, thus turning it into finished steel.
Controls and data transmission is connected to the wires coming from the back of the bot to the surface, where they display the image on the display and allow the operator to “steer” by sending the robot to the desired location.
Giant robot worm will help with the laying of pipes and cables
Vyacheslav Larionov