Hyper-Shield System Achieves Automate Excavation

The hyper-shield system developed by Fujita Corporation is used to perform automatic excavation of tunnels. The system, applicable to either the slurry or the earth-pressure method, employs the pivotal technologies of artificial intelligence and fuzzy logic to automatically control excavation of tunnels. Also the system allows for its travel along a planned path, in ways which can prevent the ground surface immediately above the tunnel being excavated, from subsidence and upheaval. This paper outlines the hyper-shield system, together with the report of its first, field application as a slurry system. The major purpose of study, which was to successfully control the position attitude of the shield machine and also to support the natural ground in order to prevent it from subsidence and uplifting, was achieved with satisfaction through the execution results.