World’s ‘first’ pothole fixing robot developed to sort out Britain’s crack-ridden roads

THE world’s first robot that will find and fix potholes using artificial intelligence has been developed by British scientists.

The self-driving robot, which looks like a cross between a tank and a road roller, was created by tech firm Robotiz3d to help local authorities fix the holes in the roads.

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Pothole repairs are estimated to have cost more than £1billion to repair over the last decade[/caption]

Almost two million potholes are fixed in the UK every year but because of the increase in road users and extreme weather conditions, it is expected to get worse.

The robot will use artificial intelligence (AI) to fix analyse the geometry of potholes and it will collect measurement data as it operates.

It will use a unique prediction algorithm that will help local authorities predict road conditions accurately, enabling them to prioritise preventative road maintenance.

Robotiz3d hope the machine will reduce the time and cost, CO2 emissions and material wastage that are associated with repairing potholes and cracks.

The firm, based at world-leading Daresbury Laboratory in Warrington, Cheshire, also hope it will improve the life span and safety of UK roads.

Lisa Layzell, CEO and co-founder of the firm, says she hopes the technology will help ‘tackle the pothole crisis.’

She said: “This is the first autonomous technology of this kind developed specifically to tackle the pothole crisis which plagues many parts of the country, and which is estimated to have cost more than £1billion to repair over the last decade.

“For Robotiz3d, locating to Daresbury Laboratory has provided us with a technologically sophisticated environment to operate in.

“The expertise available, both in technology and business development, have been invaluable as we move towards the commercialisation phase of our business.”

Robotiz3d have worked alongside science and innovation campus Sci-Tech Daresbury (STFC) to create the robot.

Paul Vernon, head of the laboratory at STFC, says he is ‘extremely proud’ to be supporting the start-up company.

He said: “For a small company, turning an initial idea into a viable commercial reality that can compete on a global scale can be an enormous challenge.

“I’m extremely proud to be providing the Robotiz3d with the right environment and support to develop and commercialise this world-leading technology, that has the potential to transform the management and safety of our roads and highways.

“Robotiz3d is an exceptional example of how cutting edge technologies can be applied to the benefit of both society and the UK economy.”

SWNS