Dig Safe Autonomous Cable Detection System

Lindberg, Amber; Mitchell, Kyle; Gosselin, Casey; Auclair, Brigid

Student Work

Dig Safe Autonomous Cable Detection System

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Dig Safe regulations require utility companies to mark the location of buried utilities prior to the start of a construction project. Detecting and marking cables is time consuming, monotonous, and can be dangerous to utility workers due to the working environment. The goal of this project is to develop a semi-autonomous robotic system that detects, and marks buried electrical cables safely and efficiently. The robot manipulates an industry-standard utility locator to find buried electrical cables. Standard utility markings are spray painted on the ground above these electrical lines using a two degree of freedom arm. GPS and LiDAR sensors are used to localize the robot within its environment. The robotic prototype is capable of detecting and following a cable in a straight line, marking the cable using spray paint, and navigating a controlled environment containing static obstacles such as curbs and streetlights.

This report represents the work of one or more WPI undergraduate students submitted to the faculty as evidence of completion of a degree requirement. WPI routinely publishes these reports on its website without editorial or peer review.

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