THE world’s first pothole-filling robot has taken to the streets for initial tests of its AI tech.
The bizarre device looks like a cross between a Cybertruck and a slug, but its creators claim it can detect damage to road surfaces early and kill off potholes before they even develop.
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Dubbed the Autonomous Road Repair System (ARRES) PREVENT, the machine uses groundbreaking AI to spot otherwise invisible cracks in the tarmac.
Potholes form when water seeps into these cracks and then expands as it freezes in winter, forcing the fissures open.
The wider cracks are then chipped down by the impact of traffic, leaving large holes.
But the ARRES PREVENT can inject the cracks with a strong sealant to stop water from entering them and keep pothole numbers down.
And even when larger craters do form, it can measure them and predict traffic conditions before alerting officials as to which areas require the most urgent maintenance.
The gadget was developed by Robotiz3d and the University of Liverpool, in partnership with Hertfordshire County Council Highways Engineers.
It has since undergone “real-world” testing on the county’s roads, where over 20,000 potholes have already been fixed in recent years.
CAR-DESTROYING potholes are the biggest bugbear among British motorists.
By Martina Bet
The sorry state of our roads was the main concern for almost six in 10 people, according to research by the RAC.
So it is really no surprise that filling an extra one million potholes a year was one of the few new policy announcements in Labour’s election manifesto.
Transport Secretary Louise Haigh reaffirmed that promise during a visit to Blackpool yesterday.
The cabinet minister wanted to see firsthand how the Council is using high-definition cameras and artificial intelligence to spot road damage early.
She promised to replicate their success across England, backing local authorities with millions in extra funding.
But can Labour really afford to keep its word?
In June, the PM insisted his massive pothole blitz was “fully costed” and backed by “enough money” – with £320million coming from deferring the controversial Arundel A27 bypass.
He also pledged the amount would be on top of the £8.3bn the Tory government had promised for road repairs after scrapping HS2.
But Rachel Reeves’ penny-pinching push this summer saw the major transport project in West Sussex scrapped in a bid to shore up the public finances.
And Government sources told The Sun the £8.3bn 11-year roads investment plan was being “assessed in the round”.
Extra cash for potholes and road repairs will be announced in the next Spending Review.
It will determine whether Labour can deliver on its promises or if the funding shortfalls and political compromises will leave motorists dodging the same hazardous holes for years to come.
And the national Government has confirmed it is looking at using similar tech to address Britain’s pothole plague.
Transport Secretary Louise Haigh told The Sun: “This new Government made a simple promise: to help councils fix a million more potholes each year, and we’ll make good on that promise.
“We’ll provide the cash they need and support them with cutting-edge technologies to tackle problem roads quicker.
“Better roads mean smoother journeys and less congestion. It matters for commuters, small businesses and hauliers – who rely on our roads every day.
“And it matters for this Government’s first and foremost mission, to grow our economy.
“Britain is a nation of drivers and under this new Government, better journeys are ahead.”
Full details of the department’s plans will be set out in this year’s Spending Review.
Hertfordshire councillor Phil Bibby added: “We’re thrilled to be at the coalface of this exciting new technology, working with world-class tech inventors and engineers.
“We’ve long been leading the way in cracking the pothole issue and in recent times have been trialling new and improved ways to fill potholes.
“Using state of the art technology to prevent the potholes forming in the first place could be exactly what we need to ensure our road network remains one of the best in the country.”
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