Cornell University

Cornell University is developing a worm-inspired digging tool with a combustion-powered soil fracturing head to minimize environmental disruption, enhance efficiency, and reduce costs of undergrounding power cables. The Mini-Mole leverages soft robotics to allow for improved steering and movement compared with conventional approaches and would be capable of tunneling, laying conduit, and installing cables without damaging the surface. The Mini-Mole would be capable of digging as fast as 12 feet per hour, have a reach up to 1,000 feet, and lower costs of cable and conduit installation by over 50%.