RodRadar, Hexagon Launch Stop Before Strike System

Why It Matters

By preventing costly underground utility strikes, the system boosts safety, cuts operational expenses, and could become a new industry standard for excavation projects.

Key Takeaways

• RodRadar LDR embeds radar in excavator bucket for real‑time detection
• AI filters out rocks, roots, sending clean data to Hexagon Xwatch
• Xwatch hydraulics automatically stop bucket within six inches of utilities
• Rental cost $6k‑$6.5k/month vs $16k/month vacuum‑excavation trucks

Pulse Analysis

Underground utility strikes remain a persistent hazard, with the Common Ground Alliance reporting over 400,000 incidents annually in the United States. Traditional mitigation relies on pre‑project utility drawings and costly vacuum‑excavation trucks that physically expose utilities before digging. While effective, these methods are time‑consuming, expensive, and still prone to human error, prompting the industry to seek real‑time, sensor‑based solutions that can intervene before a strike occurs.

The Stop‑Before‑Strike system marries RodRadar’s Live Dig Radar—an AI‑enhanced ground‑penetrating radar mounted directly in an excavator bucket—with Hexagon’s Xwatch hydraulic controller. The radar continuously scans the soil, and AI algorithms strip away irrelevant data such as rocks and roots, delivering precise utility depth and location to Xwatch. When a utility is detected within a six‑inch buffer, Xwatch automatically reduces bucket height, effectively stopping the machine. This approach mirrors automotive driver‑assistance technologies that have evolved from alerts to autonomous emergency braking, shifting the safety paradigm from warning to prevention.

From a business perspective, the solution promises substantial cost reductions. At $6,000‑$6,500 per month, renting the LDR is roughly 60% cheaper than the $16,000 monthly expense of a vacuum‑excavation truck, translating to significant savings on large‑scale projects. Faster, safer digs also improve productivity and reduce downtime caused by strike‑related repairs and legal liabilities. As contractors demonstrate ROI, industry bodies and project owners may begin mandating such safety‑grade systems, accelerating market adoption and reshaping the excavation landscape toward a zero‑strike future.