Webuild tests autonomous prototype

Catrin Jones Editor, Construction Europe

12 April 2022

The work to be done at the Nicchie La Maddalena site is part of the preparations for the excavation of the base tunnel (Photo: Webuild website)

Webuild and its Swiss subsidiary, CSC Costruzioni, have successfully completed a test run of AXEL (Autonomous Exploration Electrified Vehicle).

The zero-emissions robot prototype is designed to improve the safety of workers that are involved in the excavation of the Turin-Lyon base tunnel.

AXEL is a collaboration between the Webuild Group and the research centre Competence Industry Manufacturing 4.0 (CIM). 

TELT (Tunnel Euralpin Lyon Turin), the binational public entity responsible for the development and management of a high-speed/high-capacity railway to be built under the Alps between Turin and Lyon, commissioned the test run.

The prototype conducted a preliminary inspection of a tunnel at the Nicchie La Maddalena construction site on the Italian side of the planned base tunnel between the two cities.

The Nicchie La Maddalena site required a 3km inspection to ensure that the unknown atmospheric conditions would be safe for workers. 

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