Xpanner launches the autonomous pile driver for the construction of solar parks

Xpanner today announced the X1 Piling R6, a fully automated pile-driving robot built to autonomously install piles for utility-scale solar and battery storage, or BESS, sites. Overseen by a single operator, the system uses high-precision GNSS and onboard sensors to accurately position each stack, helping builders keep up with new energy demand despite shortages of skilled workers.

The heart of the robot is Xpanner’s Everstar R6 tracked machine. The R6 features the Santa Fe Springs, California-based company’s automation stack with integrated sensors and controls to autonomously complete the pile driving process for each pile.

Xpanner designs for simplified operation

An operator loads a table, then walks the X1 Piling R6 machine up the row using a remote control interface. The operator supervises construction while the machine carefully drives each pile.

The R6 can autonomously navigate to subsequent mound locations using high-precision GNSS antennas and receivers, precision sensors and the automation controller developed by Xpanner. An operator can remotely manage the installation process.

“Solar and BESS builders are racing to bring new energy online for the grid and AI data centers, and they can’t find enough skilled teams to keep up,” said Henri Lee, co-founder and CEO of Xpanner. “The [engineering, procurement, and construction firms] already relies on the PD10 and installs it on a more powerful and more versatile machine.”

The X1 connects to Xpanner Connect, the company’s web-based project dashboard. Project teams can upload pole schedules and coordinates, assign machines and set up a site in minutes.

As the X1 works, it records the location, depth and plumb of each pile and publishes them to a real-time project map, replacing manual counts, phone calls, spreadsheets and end-of-day reports. Managers can also monitor machine status, cycle counts and alerts across the fleet without an on-site visit.

Xpanner said the business model is a mixed capex/SaaS subscription model. Customers purchase (or rent) the X1 piling robot and then license the automation software on a monthly basis for each active technology.

According to the company, the subscription is not tied to a specific project, site or number of piles laid. Rather, the customer pays for the technology while it is actively used. Once the piling operations or applicable task is completed, the equipment and technology can be transferred to another project and activated as needed.

Xpanner handles initial installation, calibration, operator training and technical support, while the contractor provides on-site equipment operators.

Main features of the X1 Piling R6 robot

• Power for hard terrain: The system includes a 97 kW (130 hp) motor and a high-frequency hydraulic hammer with up to 1,260 J (929 ft-lbs) of impact energy and three energy settings to match ground conditions.
• Precise positioning without tramming: The guide rail slides 300 mm (11.8 in) forward and backward and 500 mm (19.7 in) left and right, and the upper body rotates 180 degrees, placing the hammer on the target with a single setup.
• Pile length range: The X1 can drive piles up to 7.0 m (23 ft) long, with a maximum driving depth of 4.8 m (15.7 ft). Because the hammer lowers close to the ground and the piles can be driven flush with grade, one machine handles standard chase piles, short driven piles and BESS foundation piles without an adapter.
• Built for the field: Features include a mast that requires no disassembly for transportation, a large fuel tank for long shifts, automatic engine idling, a large-capacity radiator, manual override and emergency stopping.
• Multifunction mast (and potential capabilities): DTH drilling, auger drilling and ground screwing on the same support, so that one machine can pre-drill and drive.

The X1 Piling R6 is designed to work alongside the X1 panel lifter, launched earlier this year, for stand-alone installation of solar panels.