Researchers at Carnegie Mellon University tested an autonomous robot explorer in an abandoned coal mine May 30 with substantial success. The mechanical beast picked its way, without human guidance, 308 m before fallen debris forced it to turn back.
"Groundhog" uses laser scans to navigate and survey mines. Development was given a push by the Quecreek Mine disaster, in which nine miners were trapped for three days when faulty maps led them to drill into flooded works nearby (ENR 9/16/02 p. 50).