A WORLD-first AI pothole robot is set to hit the streets of Britain and begin working on the tyre-destroying scourge.
The machine called ARRES (Autonomous Road Repair System) PREVENT can identify and fix potholes and cracks in the road.
It’s about to start outdoor testing in Hertfordshire within the next few months.
The large silver motor, which looks like something between a Cybertruck and a slug, will autonomously roam the streets looking for potholes.
It’s intended to be able to fix potholes quicker than humans can and also identify small cracks in the road.
While it can’t fix the larger potholes, by fixing smaller cracks it will be able to help stop potholes forming.
Potholes are formed when water finds its way into cracks on the road, making them worse and eventually turning them into a pothole.
In winter, water can turn to ice and the expanding pressure can weaken the road.
Then, as traffic repeatedly hits the area, the force of the tyres chips away at the surface leaving a hole.
Recently, Hertfordshire fixed 20,000 potholes after the council received £3.9 million from the government’s pothole fund.
Hertfordshire’s roads are generally in better condition than the national average.
ARRES PREVENT is the product of a collaboration between tech company Robotiz3d and the University of Liverpool in partnership with Hertfordshire County Council Highways Engineers.
The majority of funding comes from Innovate UK.
Robotiz3d is itself from the University of Liverpool, having been founded with investment from the University’s Enterprise Investment Fund.
The robot’s development started in 2020 and it is the only autonomous rad repair vehicle in the world.
Councillor Phil Bibby, Executive Member for Highways at Hertfordshire County Council, said: “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.
“As we continue to face another cold winter, we know we’re likely to see an increase in potholes forming as the road surface gets too cold and water and ice get into cracks that have formed over time.
“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.”
