Saving Lives and Money with Robotic Trenching and Pipe Installation

Abstract

Excavation, and in particular trenching and pipe laying, represent a hazardous working environment for humans. Many hazards exist, including trench walls that can collapse, heavy objects that can be accidentally dropped into the opening, and buried utilities (e.g., power lines) that are damaged during the operation. Workplace safety has become a major concern in the construction industry over the past few decades. The main accident prevention efforts used for trench excavation and pipe installation today are the use of the trench box, appropriate sloping of trench walls, and the training of site personnel. The Construction Automation and Robotics Laboratory at North Carolina State University has developed an alternative that is using advanced technology, the prototype robotic excavation and pipe installation system. The major mechanical components are a backhoe excavator and a pipe manipulator attachment. Joystick control of hydraulic actuators, data acquisition/processing, CAD interface, and automatic as...