Groundhog Alpha
Innovation & Design Award Winner and 2nd Place
@ NOT-A-BORING-COMPETITION 2021, Las Vegas, NE, USA
Erosion Component
Steering Component
Liner Component
Propulsion Component
The massive Erosion system cuts out large stones using our customly designed cutting wheel. Subsequently, it crushes those stones to smaller sizes (a few centimeters) using our cone crusher. The tungsten-carbide coating ensures longevity and enables the crusher to get a better grip. In the last step, all the slurry is washed out of the chamber using 10bar high pressure water and a Venturi vacuum pump which can be found in the back of the machine. With a torque of 8.5kNm, a rotation speed of 27 rpm and a pushing force of 100kN, we are prepared for any soil conditions that could come our way.
Steering
In order to dig curved tunnels, allowing for more flexibility and more potential use-cases, an innovative custom-made hydraulic hexapod system is used. Using six hydraulic high-precision cylinders, it allows us to move in six degrees of freedom to dig the best and most precise tunnel possible. Utilizing custom software, it is additionally possible to use this setup as a jackhammer, allowing for strong vibrations of frequencies as high as 20Hz.
Liner
To create a tunnel wall, a special polymer 3D-printer is used in the machine. Using tough glass fibre lamellas and a two-component polymer mix, it is possible to create a 15mm thick and highly reliable tunnel wall to press against and to ensure structural integrity along the whole length of the tunnel.
Propulsion
In the propulsion section, we use sixteen high-performance hydraulic cylinders. Coordinated with each other, their bracing plates press against the tunnel wall in a continuous fashion and allow for uninterrupted movement and a propulsion force of 200kN.
Starting Platform
Starting from the surface will make it possible to not dig a starting pit and enable us to start digging down straight away, saving valuable time. To enable this, the starting platform initially takes all the propulsion forces and guides the machine into the ground.
