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| Prufrock's tunneling drill surfacing. Source: Prufrock (Creative Commons License). |
Tunnel digging is a long-term project that takes years. However, Elon Musk, the founder and CEO of The Boring Company (TBC), does not have the time to spend years on a single project.
This is why TBC has come up with a new technology named Prufrock. What is Prufrock, and how does it allow TBC to move faster? Keep reading this article to find out.
What is Prufrock?
Prufrock is a method of tunneling that "porpoises." To "porpoise" in tunnel-making means launching directly from the surface, mining the underground, and re-emerging after the digging.
As a result of this technology, TBC can commence actual tunneling within 48 hours of getting to the site. Also, there is no need to dig expensive deep pits to retrieve the machine after the drilling is completed.
How Fast is Prufrock?
Thanks to advanced technology, Prufrock can work faster than the machines TBC used before. It can dig through a mile per week, six times faster than the tunneling boring machine (TBM) named Godot.
TBC's goal is to improve Prufrock until it can match and exceed 10 percent of human walking speed. For reference, the typical human walking speed is about 7 miles per day.
Thanks to advanced technology, Prufrock can work way faster than the machines TBC used before. It can dig through a mile per week, six times faster than the tunneling boring machine (TBM) named Godot.
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| Prufrock's tunneling assembly. Source: Prufrock (Creative Commons License). |
Why Use Prufrock?
There are two main advantages of Prufrock to TBC, namely:
Prufrock Saves Time.
Prufrock does not require elaborate preparation before boring commences. And when the digging starts, Prufrock has a sophisticated cooling mechanism that allows it to work at high speeds for extended periods of time. This ability for continuous mining reduces the time spent on the project.
Prufrock Saves Cost
Tunneling is expensive, but Prufrock allows TBC to reduce digging costs considerably. The machine combines digging through dirt with precast concrete lining and other tasks. This vertical integration means there is no need for multiple runs.
Prufrock also automatically repurposes the dirt it digs out for use as bricks and pavers for housing or road projects, opening up another income source.
In addition, Prufrock is entirely electric. This is not surprising as its sister company, Tesla, makes electric cars. However, this zero-emission operation results in cleaner tunnels with reduced ventilation requirements, meaning less operating costs than diesel-powered machines.