Figure 54. Experimental model of 
hydraulically powered soil- 
milling cutter and spoil 
removal system. 
68 
During this study, a com- 
bined cutter—slurry removal unit 
with hydraulic drive was obtained 
and tested (Figures 54 and 55). 
The principal information obtained 
with the equipment shown in Fig- 
ures 54 and 55 was the lateral force 
necessary to force a cutter through 
soil. This would be a particularly 
important design value in developing 
a successful mobile excavator as 
recommended by Northrop (1970). 
There are no present plans for addi- 
tional work in this area other than 
the publishing of the results of this 
limited but important testing. 
REMOTE CONTROL SYSTEMS 
This section is based on the 
earlier discussion of possible machines 
for excavation presented in the section 
“Shallow Drilling and Excavating.”’ 
Because of the high turbidity that 
can be expected during and for some 
time after earthmoving and drilling 
on the ocean bottom, local control 
of equipment will probably not be 
feasible. Remote control in itself 
does not provide the complete 
answer, either. Preparation of 
complex surfaces with trenches 
and holes for piling precisely 
formed in the surface appears far 
too complex for a simple remotely 
controlled machine such as a bull- 
dozer. 
The machine proposed for 
such seafloor site preparation is in 
essence an enlarged milling machine 
