Comments on: Breaking Rocks — Lots of Rocks

By: starfleet

starfleet — Tue, 10 Apr 2007 08:17:11 +0000

I think the “Deep Digger” has a potential for mining and quarrying purposes, as well as for the construction of underground caverns for non-military use. I suggest that it must be tested for those purposes because our surface environment is facing an incoming ice age and the best way to keep warm is to burrow underground and use thermo-electric technologies to convert heat into electricity for artificial full spectrum sunlight lighting and for other purposes.

By: David Hambling

David Hambling — Tue, 21 Feb 2006 14:37:17 +0000

One option would be to replace the existing magazine and reloading mechanism with a MetalStorm arrangement, which could be lighter and more reliable.
Another would be a ground-based device for making holes and breaking rock. A portable cannon using Deep Digger-developed projectiles was allegedly used by Special Forces in Afghanistan for gaining entry to cave and tunnel complexes. I would not necessarily regard that story as reliable, but it gives an idea of ppssibles uses.
The amount of ammo you need depends on how much rock you need to break. If it’s 11 cubic feet per round, you don’t need that many.

By: Brian

Brian — Mon, 20 Feb 2006 22:25:50 +0000

I’m… confused here. Bunker busters are usually dropped from a jet. I didn’t think there was a problem penetrating them when you’ve got boots on the ground. Are they actually considering dropping a metal storm platform from altitude? And, while the million-rounds-a-minute rate of fire is nice, how are they going to provide the thing enough ammunition to get the job done?

By: pedestrian

pedestrian — Mon, 20 Feb 2006 15:15:16 +0000

New Bomb Drills for Bunkers? How many rotations a second for such projectile to do the job? Is the projectile goign to make it without crumbling from great pressure? Metal Storm? Interesting, but there is smoething easier.