Automated backslope cutting system

An automated ditch cutting system, comprising:

• a scraper comprising a blade having a cutting edge for cutting a ground surface to cut a backslope of a ditch, wherein the backslope comprises a slope that is transverse to a path of the scraper;
• an actuator for adjusting the blade of the scraper;
• a computing device adapted to control the actuator to adjust the blade of the scraper;
• and
• a positional sensor on the scraper, wherein the positional sensor is communicatively interconnected with the computing device such that the positional receiver communicates positional data of the scraper to the computing device;
• wherein the computing device is adapted to receive a calculated cut profile for the backslope based on a survey of the ground surface, wherein the computing device is adapted to automatically adjust the blade of the scraper based on positional data from the positional receiver with respect to the ground surface to cut the backslope based on the calculated cut profile.

A method of automatically cutting a ditch, comprising:

• surveying a ground surface in an area to be cut into a ditch by a computing device, wherein the computing device is communicatively interconnected with a positional sensor;
• determining a calculated cut profile to cut a backslope of the ditch based on the surveying of the ground surface by the computing device, wherein the backslope comprises a slope that is transverse to a path of the scraper;
• controlling an actuator with the computing device, the actuator being connected to a scraper so as to adjust a cutting blade of the scraper;
• and
• automatically adjusting the actuator as the scraper cuts the ground surface based on the calculated cut profile by the computing device;
• and
• adjusting the elevation of the cutting blade of the scraper by the computing device based on positional data from the positional sensor.