Arizona State University (ASU)

Arizona State University is developing a water-jet underground construction tool that would deploy medium-voltage electrical cables and conduits simultaneously underground with a lower risk to existing utilities by eliminating the need for a hard drill bit. The proposed tool creates a borehole by passing high-pressure water through a steering drill head and then vacuuming the slurry back out of the borehole to clear a path for excavation. At the same time, the system installs conduit to reduce cost and schedule impacts from reaming and duct pulling tasks.