Pothole repair robot. Via Robotiz3d.
UK-based startup Robotiz3d claims to have invented the world's first autonomous electric vehicle that can detect and plug cracks in road surfaces and prevent potholes from forming.
Robotiz3d's Arres Prevent robot is designed to use advanced AI to patrol city streets, looking for cracks and potholes. When it finds them, Prevent records their location, shape, and severity.
The company says capturing and analyzing that data can reduce time, cost, emissions and material waste typically associated with road maintenance and repair services. We also predict that automated workflows will save drivers money, enable faster fixes, and improve the overall driver experience.
“This is a real innovation that will help the UK save public money and reduce hassle for the public,” said Amin Amiri, Robotiz3d Investor CEO at a2e Industries. “We are confident that Robotiz3d and its highly capable engineering and management team will bring this much-needed technology to market.”
According to Robotiz3d, potholes cost U.S. drivers $26 billion annually in vehicle damage, lost time, and repair costs.
It's a data play
“The Robotiz3d solution autonomously identifies and locates potholes, characterizes their shape, and collects measurements on the go,” said Dr. Paolo Paoletti, CTO of Robotiz3d. “The ability to automatically deposit sealant and repair small cracks before they develop into potholes is also a first. These capabilities, combined with predictive algorithms that help prioritize work schedules, will help improve road network performance. It is expected to improve safety and longevity and help reduce road repair costs, fuel consumption, greenhouse gas emissions and tire wear.”
The battery-powered Arres Prevent can explore streets autonomously or under remote operator control. This will help address the industry-wide shortage of skilled labor while creating a safer working environment for workers. do exist.
Electrek's view
You have to be a little suspicious of a company that releases what looks like an AI rendering of an AI-based product and hides photos of the actual product they're selling so deeply that you can't even find it on their own website . (The image above that I found is from Hertfordshire County Council).
That said, Hertfordshire County Council seems impressed. “Today's test is another step in the right direction towards solving the pothole problem facing this country… We will repair more than 40,000 potholes this year through testing new technologies. We've been working hard to improve this, but this cutting-edge technology could potentially prevent the problem from occurring in the first place.'' Hertfordshire County Council's Highways Officer said Leena Ranger, Deputy Executive Committee Member. “We are committed to maintaining our road network so that it remains one of the best in the country, and we look forward to the time when we can officially welcome PREVENT to our team.”
Our Hertfordshire road crew loved Arres Prevent so much we created a video. You can check it below.
The world's first pothole prevention robot
I hope it works. And road repair using electric robots will become a reality sooner or later.
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