China3D printingScientists from Monash University and Chang’an University have built a novel asphalt3D printingmachine that automatically detects and fills cracks in sidewalks or roads.
By mounting the camera to a custom FDM 3D printingOnboard, and equipping it with novel image processing algorithms, the team created a robot with independent gap sealing capabilities. According to the researchers, their automated platform could now provide local authorities with a faster means to build roads and protect people from the hidden dangers of outdated infrastructure.
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scientist’s3D printingThe platform automatically fills voids in concrete or asphalt. Image via International Pavement Engineering Journal.
Revolutionizing road maintenance
Cracks most commonly occur in asphalt pavements or road networks, and are often caused by everyday events such as heavy traffic, heavy foot traffic, and weather changes. While such damage is still common in many major cities, it has the potential to cause longer travel delays and even harm those who don’t pay much attention.
The cash-strapped government would rather use crack sealant for sidewalk and road repairs than replace unsound infrastructure, but the manual process is laborious and potentially dangerous, putting workers at risk of traffic. As a result, research into alternatives has recently begun, and various AI-controlled platforms are being developed.
For example, a UC Davis team created two different bionic arm mounting systems, but neither proved compatible with certain crack types. Other similar machines are also prone to jitter due to changes in the environment, making them inaccurate and prone to leaks.
In contrast, recent automation3D printingTechnology has advanced considerably, opening up the possibility for a properly modified system to act as a pre-programmed construction worker.To test this theory, the joint research team therefore constructed a unique3D printingThe printer is capable of depositing precisely no matter what is happening nearby.
The researchers’ novel setup (pictured) allowed them to repair a set of concrete slab specimens. Image via International Pavement Engineering Journal.
Building a paving repair robot
Scientists around Prusa I3 3D printingMachines built their novel platform with an upgraded motherboard and installed Arduino compatible modules. Once the cameras are installed, the system works by sending the captured images through the microcontroller to a path-planning algorithm, which can independently determine when sealant is needed.
Using MATLAB software, the team was also able to configure individual image processing algorithms to automatically remove background noise. In effect, the program speeds up the machine’s computation by converting the crack image to binary form by dividing its pixels, leaving only the extra black squares and recognizable white gaps.
The researchers put their fast new platform to the test and then attempted to repair a set of laboratory specimens of cement paving slabs. In operation, the system proved able to fill simple gaps with cold asphalt compound with precision, but it took 30 seconds to process each image, much longer than the average construction worker.
Custom machines are also sometimes overfilled, which can lead to accidents if used in end-use scenarios. As a result, the scientists acknowledge that their prototype algorithm could be further optimized using deep learning methods in the future to produce a faster and more accurate platform with field testing capabilities.
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Although several different bitumens have been developed in recent years3D printingmachines, but none have proven effective enough to warrant their end use.
Back in 2015, Advanced Paving Technologies launched a kickstarter to fund its new asphalt paver.The device has lidar3D scanningtechnology that enables it to detect impending cracks in the road before filling them in a faster, cheaper and cleaner way than traditional manual methods.
Recently, researchers at the University of Leeds tried to develop a tarmac3D printingA robot that uses data captured by UGVs to identify potholes before finding and repairing them. In the future, compact platforms could also be mounted on drones as a means of securing inaccessible infrastructure at heights.
Similarly, researchers at University College London (UCL) have created a custom pitch3D printingmachine, which is specially designed to repair potholes.Using their portable new platform, the team has been able to precisely control3D printingparameters of the asphalt and optimize the entire extrusion process.
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