Investigation of a Pavement Crack-Filling Robot

摘要

The report describes a laboratory prototype designed to identify, map, track and fill pavement cracks. Video imaging and electronic scanning equipment installed in a van is followed by a rack carrying a hot-air lance, a sealant wand, and a supply trailer. The video sensor identifies potential cracks while the depth sensor verifies actual depth. A map plotter defines the crack length, size and depth. Using the combination of visual and depth sensing equipment, the cracks located and mapped were filled with an accuracy of better than 1 cm (0.5 in.). Approximately $125 million per year is spent by states on crack-filling with labor representing 50 percent of the costs. Assuming a four-year system life at a cost of $100,000 plus annual maintenance and operating costs of $25,000 per year, potential savings could be as much as $60,000 per unit, per year or 19 percent of costs on a national basis equal to $24 million per year.