Delegates attending this year’s Innovation & Learning Festival, hosted by the Local Council Roads Innovation Group (LCRIG) will have the unique opportunity to witness the world’s first autonomous pothole repair system in action.
Developed by start-up company Robotiz3d, a spin-out from the University of Liverpool, and in partnership with Hertfordshire County Council Highways Engineers, this first of its kind robot, named ARRES PREVENT detects and seals road surface cracks to prevent potholes from forming.
The ground-breaking technology analyses the geometry of potholes, collecting measurement data as it operates. Using Artificial Intelligence (AI), it couples this data with a unique prediction algorithm that will enable local authorities to predict road conditions accurately, enabling them to prioritise preventative road maintenance.
The robot identifies and characterises cracks, potholes and other defects in the road using AI and then automatically fills the cracks to keep out surface water, which in turn helps to prevent potholes forming, with the potential to save time and money as well as reducing the disruption potholes cause to road users.
What’s more, the ground-breaking technology incorporates a patent-pending defect detection solution, ARRES EYE, with powerful machine learning capabilities, which can be retrofitted onto a standard vehicle to enable fast defect discovery and assessment on the fly, helping track road condition changes and monitor the standards of repair.
Lisa Layzell, Co Founder and CEO at Robotiz3d said: “We are very excited to participate in the Innovation & Learning Festival. Our aim is to contribute to the creation of a safe and sustainable road infrastructure through intelligent, automated maintenance solutions, and this can only be achieved via listening, learning, and actively collaborating with highway authorities, contractors, and other stakeholders. The festival offers an excellent opportunity to spark these vital interactions and cultivate valuable partnerships.”
Charlotte Bromley, Events Manager at LCRIG added: “We are thrilled to welcome Robotiz3d’s autonomous pothole prototype as the latest exciting addition to the line-up for this year’s Innovation & Learning Festival.
“Local authority highway teams face an ever-increasing challenge due to rising costs and increasing frequency of extreme weather. Innovation and technology are vital in helping to address this challenge. The festival plays a key part, serving as a platform to facilitate collaboration between local authorities and private sector while affording councils the opportunity to explore new technology such as the autonomous pothole vehicle, which will help them to meet their current and future needs.”
The LCRIG Innovation & Learning Festival, now in its third year, showcases products, solutions, innovations, and techniques from across the highways and transport technology sector. With indoor and outdoor exhibitions, CPD-certified technical training sessions, and a range of live demonstration sessions, this is a must-attend event for professionals wanting to develop and enhance their knowledge around the latest advancements and industry best practice.
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(Image source: Hertfordshire County Council)