BADGER · Project

Autonomous Underground Robot That Drills, Maps and Installs Pipes Without Digging Trenches

constructionTestedTRL 5

Imagine a robot mole that can burrow underground on its own — drilling, steering, and knowing exactly where it is beneath the surface. It builds tunnels for pipes and cables without anyone having to dig up roads or fields. The robot carries radar to "see" what's underground, sends live data back to an operator, and learns from every meter it drills. Think of it as GPS-guided underground construction that leaves the surface untouched.

By the numbers

consortium partners

countries represented

57%

industry partner ratio

total project deliverables

industry partners in consortium

demonstrated prototype deliverables

The business problem

What needed solving

Underground pipe and cable installation today means digging trenches — tearing up roads, disrupting traffic, damaging landscapes, and running up costs. Geotechnical surveys require manual drilling and sampling that takes weeks. Companies need a way to install underground infrastructure and map subsurface conditions without the surface destruction and downtime that traditional methods demand.

The solution

What was built

The project built an autonomous underground robot with three key demonstrated systems: a Ground Probing Radar System Prototype for underground sensing and mapping, a telemanipulation system for remote-controlled propulsion and steering, and a data management platform with frontend and backend for storing, processing and analyzing underground operation data. In total, 18 deliverables were produced across the project.

Audience

Who needs this

Utility companies installing underground water, gas, or telecom networksIrrigation system contractors working on large agricultural projectsGeotechnical survey and site investigation firmsTrenchless construction and horizontal directional drilling companiesMunicipal infrastructure departments managing underground cable routing

Business applications

Who can put this to work

Utilities & Infrastructure

enterprise

Target: Utility companies installing water, gas, or fiber-optic networks

If you are a utility company dealing with the cost and disruption of digging trenches to lay pipes and cables — this project developed an autonomous underground robot with ground-probing radar and telemanipulation that can drill and install pipelines without breaking the surface. The system was demonstrated with 7 consortium partners across 5 countries, and includes a full data management platform for planning and monitoring operations.

Agriculture & Irrigation

mid-size

Target: Large-scale irrigation system installers and agricultural engineering firms

If you are an irrigation company struggling with the time and expense of installing underground pipe networks across large farmland — this project developed a robotic system specifically designed for large-scale irrigation installations. The robot navigates autonomously underground, maps soil conditions with radar, and constructs horizontal and vertical pipe networks without disrupting crops or fields above.

Geotechnical Engineering

SME

Target: Geotechnical investigation and site survey firms

If you are a geotechnical firm spending weeks on manual soil sampling and underground surveys — this project built a robot equipped with a Ground Probing Radar System Prototype that maps and interprets underground environments in real time. The data management system lets your team store, process and analyze subsurface data for efficient off-line planning and on-line remote monitoring of operations.

Frequently asked

Quick answers

What would it cost to adopt this robotic drilling system?

The project's EU contribution is not publicly listed in the dataset, so specific unit costs are not available. As a Research and Innovation Action with 7 partners, the system is still at prototype stage. Commercial pricing would depend on licensing terms negotiated with the consortium.

Can this scale to real commercial underground operations?

The project demonstrated a telemanipulation system with interface to the robotic device, including tele-manipulated propulsion and steering. The Ground Probing Radar System Prototype represents the integrated output of all design efforts. Scaling to full commercial deployment would require further engineering and field validation beyond the project's 2017–2020 scope.

Who owns the intellectual property and can I license it?

The consortium of 7 partners across 5 countries shares IP from this Research and Innovation Action. Universidad Carlos III de Madrid in Spain coordinated the project. Licensing discussions would need to go through the consortium, likely starting with the coordinator.

Does this meet construction and underground safety regulations?

Based on available project data, the system was designed for trenchless construction operations and includes real-time monitoring and control capabilities. Specific regulatory certifications are not mentioned in the deliverables. Any commercial deployment would need to meet local construction and safety standards.

How long would integration into existing operations take?

The project ran from January 2017 to June 2020 — roughly 3.5 years of development. The data management system includes both frontend and backend for integration with existing planning workflows. Based on available project data, timeline for commercial integration would depend on the specific application domain chosen.

What underground conditions can the robot handle?

The robot was designed to drill, maneuver, localize, map and navigate underground, constructing horizontal and vertical networks of bores and pipelines. The Ground Probing Radar System Prototype senses and interprets the surrounding underground environment. Specific soil type limitations are not detailed in the available deliverable descriptions.

Consortium

Who built it

The BADGER consortium brings 7 partners from 5 countries (Germany, Greece, Spain, Italy, UK), with a strong 57% industry ratio — 4 industry partners alongside 2 universities and 1 research organization. This industry-heavy mix signals the project was built with commercial application in mind, not just academic research. The coordinator is Universidad Carlos III de Madrid, a top Spanish technical university. Having 1 SME in the mix suggests at least one smaller company saw near-term market potential. For a business buyer, this consortium structure means you'd be dealing with partners who understand both the engineering science and the commercial realities of underground construction.

UNIVERSIDAD CARLOS III DE MADRIDCoordinator · ES
IDS GEORADAR SRLparticipant · IT
ROBOTNIK AUTOMATION SLparticipant · ES
ETHNIKO KENTRO EREVNAS KAI TECHNOLOGIKIS ANAPTYXISparticipant · EL
SINGULARLOGIC PLIROFORIAKON SYSTIMATON KAI EFARMOGON PLIROFORIKISparticipant · EL
UNIVERSITY OF GLASGOWparticipant · UK

How to reach the team

Universidad Carlos III de Madrid (Spain) — reach out to their robotics or engineering faculty for licensing inquiries

Order a report on this consortium See UNIVERSIDAD CARLOS III DE MADRID profile →

Next steps

Talk to the team behind this work.

Want an introduction to the BADGER team? SciTransfer can connect you with the right consortium partner for your underground construction challenge.

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