AI, Robotics Spinoff Takes Aim at Road Maintenance

The University of Liverpool, in partnership with private equity investment firm A2E Ltd., formed Robotiz3d Ltd. The joint venture spinoff company will commercialize patented research from the university’s Engineering Robotics Lab, using AI and robotics to improve road and infrastructure defects, such as potholes and cracks. The information will support efforts aimed at both detection and restoration.

Potholes, according to a University of Liverpool media release, are estimated to have cost more than £1 billion to repair in England over the last 10 years. The university’s Enterprise Investment Fund and private equity investment from A2E will both invest in the new company.

Artist's impression of Robotiz3d’s ARRES model (autonomous road repair system). Courtesy of Robotiz3d Ltd.

“Robotiz3D Ltd. will develop an AI-driven robotic system to address the national and international potholes problem,” said Paolo Paoletti, from the University of Liverpool’s School of Engineering. Paoletti will serve as the company’s CTO. “The proposed system will be able to autonomously detect and characterize road defects such as cracks and potholes, assess and predict the severity of such defects, and fix cracks so that they do not evolve into potholes.”

The University of Liverpool’s IP Commercialisation Team supported the formation of the company.