Digging trenches is a part of many construction projects, which can disrupt aspects of daily life on the surface. There are trenchless methods, but they require that the tunnel be completely or almost completely straight. The goal of this project was to design a machine capable of producing complex tunnels without the use of a trench. Early stages of design considered different alternatives for steering, anchoring, and boring. A prototype was constructed as a proof of kinematic concept with full electronic and computational systems onboard. Using the prototype, a report was generated detailing the improvements required for a high-budget and marketable iteration of the device. The prototype is not capable of travelling underground, but it provides proof that the designs are sound.

• This report represents the work of one or more WPI undergraduate students submitted to the faculty as evidence of completion of a degree requirement. WPI routinely publishes these reports on its website without editorial or peer review.

Creator

• Ringer-Silva, Tomas F.
• Gibbia, Thomas J.
• Howes, Spencer Garrison
• Stevens, Benjamin G.
• Tweed, Christian

Publisher

• Worcester Polytechnic Institute

Identifier

• E-project-051720-035546

Advisor

• Radhakrishnan, Pradeep
• Schaufeld, Jerome
• Gennert, Michael A.

Year

• 2020

Date created

• 2020-05-17

Resource type

• Major Qualifying Project

Major

• Computer Science
• Mechanical Engineering
• Interdisciplinary

Rights statement

• In Copyright