SPEEDWORM: Swift, Portable, and Efficient Electrical undergrounDing using a Waterfree, cOmpact, and Reliable Machine

Default ARPA-E Project Image

Program:
GOPHURRS
Award:
$3,674,998
Location:
Niskayuna, New York
Status:
ACTIVE
Project Term:
05/17/2024 - 05/16/2027
Website:

Technology Description:

GE Vernova Advanced Research is developing a robotic worm tunneling construction tool that would dig and install conduit and cables for underground distribution powerlines in a single step. GE’s SPEEDWORM would mimic the natural movement of earthworms and tree roots to install 1,000 feet of cable and conduit in two hours with unmatched flexibility. The tool could deploy from a standard pickup truck and would eliminate the cost, complexity, and surface disruption compared with conventional approaches.

Contact

ARPA-E Program Director:
Dr. Philseok Kim
Project Contact:
Mr. John Lizzi
Press and General Inquiries Email:
ARPA-E-Comms@hq.doe.gov
Project Contact Email:
lizzi@ge.com

Related Projects

• Arizona State University (ASU) - High Speed Installation of Buried Medium Voltage Electrical Distribution Lines Using a Single Pass System
• Case Western Reserve University - Peristaltic Conduit with Stiff Structure and Compliant Skin
• Cornell University - Mini-Mole: Combustion Powered Tip Fracturing and Undulatory Locomotion Robot
• GE Vernova Advanced Research - SPEEDWORM: Swift, Portable, and Efficient Electrical undergrounDing using a Waterfree, cOmpact, and Reliable Machine
• Melni Technologies - Enhancing Reliability and Resilience of Underground Distribution Systems Using Innovative Splicing
• Oceanit - Artificial Intelligence and Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Real-Time Advanced Look-Ahead Subsurface Sensor (AURALSS)
• Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) - Subsurface Intelligence for Undergrounding Operations: Rapid AI-Based Geophysical Imaging and Advanced Visualization
• Prysmian Cables & Systems USA - Error-Free Splicing Machine for Underground Power Cables
• RTX Technology Research Center - UNderground Imaging with QUantum sEnsors (UnIQue)
• Sandia National Laboratories - Advancing Horizontal Directional Drilling for Rapid Undergrounding of Electrical Utilities
• Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University (Virginia Tech) - Multi-Physics, Intelligent Sensing System (MISS) For Real-Time, Look-Ahead While Drilling

Release Date:
03/30/2023