The first autonomous potholing robot with artificial intelligence is on its way to make life easier for motorists. The machine, called PREVENT (Autonomous Road Repair System), built by a company called Robotiz3d under the direction of researchers at the University of Liverpool, is being tested in Hertfordshire.

The innovative device autonomously detects and repairs road defects, helping to improve road quality.

The PREVENT robot is currently in test operation and researchers are testing its effectiveness in real-life conditions. The machine searches for asphalt irregularities on its own, using its cameras and artificial intelligence algorithms to identify and classify them.

The ARRES EYE system accurately lists road defects by type and severity, and produces a map of pothole locations. Cracks are patched immediately, preventing further potholes from forming.

PREVENT works day and night, detecting road defects at speeds of up to 100 km/h. Although the test version is not yet perfect in appearance and only repairs cracks, the project plans further improvements, including the creation of a more scaled-up version that can perform multiple road repair tasks. The introduction of ARRES PREVENT could open a new era in the use of autonomous road repair robots.