Researchers to automate crack detection and filling on roadways
Marie Donlon | April 05, 2021Researchers from Australia’s Monash University and China’s Chang’an University have developed an asphalt 3D-printer that autonomously detects and fills cracks in pavement.
To develop the autonomous platform, the researchers modified a fusion deposition modeling (FDM) 3D printer with a mounted camera and an image processing algorithm.
In the lab, the platform captured images of cracks in concrete pavement slabs and sent those images via microcontroller to the algorithm, which identified where to apply bitumen emulsion sealant.
Source: International Journal of Pavement Engineering
According to its developers, the automated platform successfully detected and filled the cracks in the pavement slabs autonomously in the lab, proving that the technology could one day automate road maintenance and repair.
Considered time consuming and costly, road maintenance and repair of damage incurred from weather and excessive traffic can cause delays and even injury when carried out by humans. However, researchers hope that automating the tasks will reduce the risks, traffic delays and costs associated with conventional road repairs.
The researchers detail their work in the study "A laboratory prototype of automatic pavement crack sealing based on a modified 3D printer," which appears in the International Journal of Pavement Engineering.
This could greatly simply crack sealing. It would make application a lot safer. And, it would take the hassle out of payment. Some Department of Transportation needs to jump on this right now!
Considered time consuming and costly, road maintenance and repair of damage incurred from weather and excessive traffic can cause delays and even injury when carried out by humans.....
Wonderful, great. And what technology are you going to use to get rid of excess humans when all this tech does all the work? Amazing how life is being run and controlled by toy makers.
Soylent Green cannot be far off now. Perhaps a few Triffids will come in handy.
In reply to #2
We have no choice on machines replacing humans. If robots reduce the cost of production, they will be used. The humans replaced will be offered job training and unemployment compensation. After the unemployment compensation runs out and they don't have a job, they go on welfare. The way to keep people working is to have more jobs. This could be done by lower the number of hours in the work week. Making overtime pay double the pay rate. In other words, induce the employer to have more jobs available. Of course, this hasn't happened anywhere in the world that I know of. The argument is that new industries and products will take up the slack. And if it don't, the wealthy are content to allow people to be on welfare. The money the welfare recipients spend is used by the wealthy to continue and make profit on their business. The amount of money the welfare recipient spends on food, clothing, and shelter is about the same as everyone else. The difference is that they get their money from the taxpayer, but the amount spent is about the dame and it keeps the economy going. We live in a spend economy.
In reply to #3
induce the employer to have more jobs available..... Now how do you suggest the employer creates more jobs when the employer uses robots and tech? So we retrain people to do techie jobs. Now we have too many people trained as techies and not enough jobs.
So again we have the America idea that "I'm OK Jack, F... you". What about those countries who do not have welfare and unemployment benefits? Where do you think they are more likely to head for as illegal immigrants? Nigeria or Newark? Congo or Colorado? I can assure you, it wont be Johannesburg S. Africa. It will be Johannesburg Kern County, California and surroundings.
And with all your welfare and benefits and all those countries who have welfare, will be most attractive to live, hence you will end up with less employment, more over crowding, more poverty, poor health and an over burdened tax payer. And a queue at your borders that you cannot cope with.
Perhaps one needs to reconsider the whole picture and not just the little world around you. Can you imagine a border queue of Indians, Indonesians, Africans, Pakistanis, Mexicans, Brits, Chinese, etc all wanting to get in to make a life on the dole in the USA, UK, and Europe.
I seriously think further though is needed, by all people, to all this tech replacing them. Its time to stop being amazed and bedazzled with tech and living in fairy tale land. It has its place, it is not to replace.