Ever get frustrated driving on a road full of potholes? Have you ever wished road workers would just get it over it? Did the thought occur to you that cities need faster response times for these road repairs? Well, the answer to all your pothole woes may come at an unexpected source.
Drones may soon cover up potholes at a fast and efficient pace. More efficient than the traditional methods it seems, according to researchers. On the number of jobs being replaced by drones, road repair may be next on the list.
Pothole Printer Drone:
In the United Kingdom, researchers propose that a drone fill potholes instead of the traditional methods. This drone will use a 3D printer to patch the damage on site. Using cameras to create virtual data on streets, it can go straight to the field to find problems. The drone will then 3D print a perfectly fitting solution made of asphalt.
This may be the solution to a fairly common problem around the world: slow road construction. With 3D printing, we may end up seeing road repairs lasting hours, if not minutes to finish up. If used on swarms, these drones can then scan multiple roads, do repairs, and get back to base in swift succession.
Another perk of using drones for road repairs is that they can take action even with small potholes. Meaning before the holes become troublesome, they can receive repairs. Workers and government agencies usually only pull the trigger on road repair when it becomes worse enough. With drones, their programs can identify potential road damages and fix them on the spot.
A long term goal stemming from this particular pothole project is a grand idea. The end game hopes that this drone technology can repair buildings themselves in real time.
The pothole repair drone boasts an impressive accuracy in repairs. Only time will tell if this method will be more effective and efficient compared to its predecessors.
