Terminator-inspired Autonomous Vehicle Fills Potholes with Precision

ARRES: UK Testing Underway

If you happen to be roaming the roads north of London and come across an unusual black automobile slowly advancing, make sure to keep your distance. There’s no need to fret, it’s not equipped with any laser beams. However, it does possess a remarkable capability to locate and fix cracks in the pavement autonomously. This innovative technology is known as the Autonomous Road Repair System or ARRES, and it is currently being put to the test in Hertfordshire.The ARRES vehicle is a state-of-the-art machine designed to tackle road maintenance efficiently and effectively. Equipped with advanced sensors and cameras, it can easily detect any flaws in the road surface and promptly seal them up without any human intervention. This groundbreaking system eliminates the need for manual labor and ensures faster and more accurate repairs, saving both time and resources.In addition to its impressive technical capabilities, the ARRES vehicle also boasts a sleek and eye-catching design. Its jet-black exterior and futuristic features make it stand out on the streets, drawing curious looks from passersby.Although still in the testing stage, the ARRES has already shown promising results. It has successfully repaired numerous cracks and defects on roads in Hertfordshire, proving its potential to revolutionize road maintenance.So, if you encounter the

Indeed, the appearance of this vehicle does inspire some intimidation. New Atlas describes its sharp edges as reminiscent of the Tesla Cybertruck, though to us, it evokes more of a Syd Mead and Blade Runner aesthetic due to its peculiar proportions. And perhaps we should ignore the fact that its name is an acronym for the Greek god of war. Fortunately, there are no flashing red lights present, leading us to believe it is not a malevolent killing machine programmed to eliminate mankind. On the bright side, the wheels do have an impressive design.

Humor aside, the most impressive innovations are often hidden from plain sight. Constructed by a team of scholars from the University of Liverpool and the technology firm Robotiz3d, it utilizes a range of detectors, lenses, and other equipment alongside corrective tools that seal crevices with no outside intervention necessary. Admittedly, ARRES can be maneuvered remotely by a person, however, the primary goal of this venture is to create a machine capable of independently performing road maintenance around the clock.

The Hertfordshire County Council has been working on this initiative since 2020 and has just finished its initial real-world trial. While the exact mechanics of the project are not disclosed at this time, further experiments will be carried out in the area to perfect the system for official implementation. Additionally, there are intentions to construct a larger model that would oversee a group of terminators in performing additional automated repairs on roads.

World's first pothole preventing robot

“We are committed to our goal of promoting a secure and environmentally-friendly road infrastructure by implementing advanced and automated maintenance and repair techniques,” stated Sebastiano Fichera, one of the co-founders and the technical director of Robotiz3d.

“ARRES Prevent is specifically engineered to independently execute crack sealing duties by merging the innovative capabilities of ARRES Eye, our advanced road survey technology powered by artificial intelligence, with cutting-edge robotics and unmanned mobility. Its primary objective is to proactively decrease the occurrence of potholes. Our partnership with Hertfordshire County Council has greatly hastened our progress, propelling us closer to our ultimate goal of transforming road maintenance methods.”

Source: Hertfordshire City Council via New Atlas