During tunnel excavation, having accurate, real-time information about the direction and position of the excavation is essential. Therefore, a system capable of providing continuous, rapid, and precise feedback on the tunnel’s position and orientation is required. The Tunnel Boring Machine Navigator developed by Fath Optic is designed to meet this need, enhancing the speed and accuracy of tunneling operations through fast and precise positioning and alignment.
The system consists of two separate units: a laser transmitter and a laser receiver. The transmitter unit features motorized adjustment in two axes, allowing precise alignment of the emitted laser beam. The receiver, which is the core component of the system, is designed to measure three degrees of freedom: X, Y, and yaw. A matrix-based sensing system is used to determine the X and Y positions, while an advanced optical method developed by Fath Optic is employed to measure the horizontal rotational angle (yaw) of the system.
