Two students from Independent University, Bangladesh (IUB), Shah Asif Hafiz and Dewan Mohammad Alif, are set to represent Bangladesh in the final round of Elon Musk’s ‘Not-a-Boring Competition’ in the United States. Organized annually by Musk’s tunneling company, The Boring Company, the competition invites university students and researchers worldwide to showcase innovative ideas and technologies related to tunnel construction.

Asif and Alif, members of the 19-person team ‘Board Tunnelers,’ will compete in the finals scheduled for March 27-29 in Texas, USA. The team, formed in 2023, includes students from various departments across multiple Bangladeshi universities. They have developed a Micro Tunnel Boring Machine (MTBM) that utilizes robotics and mechanical, electrical, civil, and computer engineering to efficiently excavate underground tunnels.

The competition requires teams to dig a 30-meter-long and 500-centimeter-wide tunnel, with participants evaluated on speed, precision, and the application of new technologies. The event aims to reduce costs and enhance efficiency in tunnel construction for urban planning, transportation, infrastructure, defense, space exploration, and mineral exploration.

Last year, Board Tunnelers presented their concept at the competition, competing against teams from prestigious institutions like the University of Pennsylvania, Virginia Tech, ETH Zurich, and the University of Texas. Although their machine was not fully developed at the time, they advanced to the finals and won the Rookie Award. This year, they have further refined their technology and aim to demonstrate its effectiveness in Texas.

Asif shared, “Our goal is not just to compete but to introduce tunnel-boring technology in Bangladesh. This innovation can revolutionize road repairs, transportation infrastructure, and other excavation projects.”

Alif added, “This competition is an opportunity to show the world that Bangladeshi students are capable of advanced technological innovation. The support from IUB has been invaluable in this journey.”

IUB Vice Chancellor Professor Dr. M. Tamim praised the team’s achievement, stating, “This is a unique accomplishment for Bangladeshi students, proving their ability to compete in global engineering innovation. Tunnel-boring technology will play a crucial role in future infrastructure development, particularly in urban transport and energy systems.”

The team has received technical support from the Bangladesh Industrial Technical Assistance Centre (BITAC) and funding from Grameenphone, Gigabyte Oras, Superstar Group, and the Ministry of Public Administration. Advisors include Salman Promon, a graduate teaching and research fellow at the University of Houston; BITAC Executive Engineer Md. Mamunur Rashid; and Joint Secretary Md. Ashrafuzzaman of the Ministry of Public Administration.

Board Tunnelers will travel to Texas on March 18-22, with their machine arriving on March 23. Testing and evaluation will take place from March 24-26, followed by the main competition on March 27-29. The event will conclude with cleanup on March 30 and final packing on April 1.