Developing drive systems for autonomous maintenance robots
MACHINING & MACHINERY SELF-REPAIRING CITIES
EMS LIMITED
Developing drive systems for autonomous maintenance robots
Street works carried out in England between 2022 and 2023 cost the economy some £ 4 billion in journey disruption . Infrastructure work is essential , but how can we minimise its impact on drivers and residents ? In this article , Stewart Goulding , managing director of drive system supplier EMS , explores how robotics could be the solution .
Maintenance work carried out by gas , water and telecoms companies is necessary for the provision of essential services . But less welcome is the disruption that these street works often bring . Speed restrictions , closed pavements and temporary traffic lights can cause mile-long tailbacks at worst , and a mild inconvenience at best .
To tackle this issue , the Government proposed plans earlier in 2024 to crack down on street works , with increased fines on utility companies allowing works to overrun into the weekend and bank holidays . If successfully implemented , the scheme could have a massively positive impact for drivers , deterring utility companies from causing unnecessary disruption .
But there is something the plan doesn ’ t address — the speed of these repairs . While awarding late fines to companies might encourage them to complete works more quickly , it could also lead to work being rushed . Substandard quality repairs could result in work needing to be redone , which only adds to the issue of disruption .
Evidently , a more rounded approach is needed to tackle the challenge of infrastructure maintenance . So , what else should be considered ?
Developments in drone technology , including the commercialisation of drones with advanced camera systems mean that building powerful , lightweight drones is becoming increasingly possible .
Self-repairing cities
To address the speed and responsiveness of repairs , integrating more autonomous technology into maintenance processes could be advantageous . One project led by the University of Leeds is investigating this with its concept of ‘ self-repairing ’ cities . This £ 4.2m research project aims to minimise street disruptions using specially designed maintenance robots .
Maintenance robots offer several advantages . For example , repairs at height , such as broken streetlamps often require a specialist vehicle with a crane-like mechanism to lift the worker up to the street light . Not only does this require dedicated equipment — which is often limited in number — but it also means that part of the road or pavement is obstructed while work is being carried out .
The self-repairing city concept presents a more streamlined solution , using drones . These can be stationed around cities and dispatched as required to quickly fix such problems . Health-and-safety risks of lifting workers up at height are decreased , with minimal disruption to road users in the process .
Large-scale inspection
These drones may also be useful for inspection . Conducting road condition surveys manually is timeconsuming . And it ’ s unsafe to slow down to inspect the condition of a pothole on a road when surrounding traffic is moving much more quickly .
It ’ s possible that some cars will be able to record and transmit data on road condition on their own — Mercedes Benz trialled this with its own vehicles in the Netherlands . But until then , drones can offer a much more streamlined solution . Able to work around the clock , drones can quickly identify small cracks and potholes before they escalate into more serious problems .
Robotics can also be used to inspect areas we can ’ t see . Underground water pipes in the UK lose thousands of litres each year due to cracks and leaks . In this application , robots could be used to crawl through pipes too small for human workers , and remotely operated for safe and thorough inspection .
98 PECM Issue 70