Earlier this week, The Boring Company (TBC) made a groundbreaking announcement regarding their continuous mining in a Zero-People-in-Tunnel (ZPIT) configuration. This innovative approach has set a new standard in tunnel construction, with TBC stating that this method is the safest, fastest, and most cost-effective way to build tunnels.
Videos shared by The Boring Company showcase the ZPIT configuration in action, highlighting the significance of this milestone. TBC emphasized that this method of continuous mining is akin to full reusability for rockets, making it a crucial advancement for their tunneling operations.
Currently, Tesla vehicles with human drivers are utilized in The Boring Company’s Las Vegas tunnels for transportation purposes. However, the introduction of the Tesla Cybercab could revolutionize the functionality of TBC’s tunnels. Ashok Elluswamy, Tesla’s VP of AI Software, explained how The Boring Company’s advancements would play a key role in realizing Tesla’s vision for a future dominated by robotaxis.
Elluswamy expressed the necessity of autonomous vehicles in the future, highlighting how they would provide affordable premium transport for everyone. He also noted that while increased usage of autonomous vehicles may lead to higher traffic volume, each vehicle’s efficiency would ultimately offset this impact.
One of The Boring Company’s primary goals is to address traffic congestion and offer rapid point-to-point transport solutions. Elon Musk’s vision for 3D road designs, featuring tunnels that function like wormholes or warp tunnels, is at the core of TBC’s mission. The Las Vegas Convention Center tunnel network exemplifies this concept, showcasing the potential for fast and efficient transportation.
TBC is on the verge of surpassing Gary the Snail’s tunneling speed with its Prufrock boring machine, marking another significant achievement. The latest iteration of Prufrock can commence tunneling within 48 hours of arrival at a site and dig over 1 mile per week. The next target for Prufrock is to exceed 1/10th of a human’s walking speed, aiming to achieve a remarkable 7 miles per day.
As Tesla gears up to launch robotaxi services in Texas this summer, Elon Musk’s tunneling company will play a crucial role in ensuring smooth and congestion-free roads for these autonomous vehicles. The integration of TBC’s cutting-edge tunneling technology with Tesla’s innovative transport solutions is set to pave the way for a future dominated by efficient and sustainable mobility.
The original post detailing The Boring Company’s advancements and their implications for Tesla’s robotaxi future originally appeared on TESLARATI.