Robotic Highway Cones

A University of Nebraska professor has developed robotic cones and barrels. These robotic cones and barrels can move out of the way, or into 51　, from computer commands made miles away. They can even be programmed to move on their own at any particular part of the day, said Shane Farritor, an assistant professor of mechanical engineering at Nebraska.
For example, if workers arrived at 6 am, the cones could move from the side of the highway to 52 off the lane at that time. And they can return to the 53 place at the end of the day. “It just seems like a very good application for robots.” Farritor said. “The robotic cones would also help 54 people from hazardous jobs on the highway putting barrels and cones into place,” Farritor said in a report on his creation.
Work on the idea began in 2002 using a National Academy of Sciences grant. The 55 allowed Farritor to work on the project with graduate students at Nebraska and his assistant Steve Goddard.
The robots are placed at the bottom of the cones and barrels and are 56 enough not to greatly change the appearance of the construction aides. “It would look exactly the same,” Farritor said. “57 there’s a kind of rubbery, black base to them. We replace that 58 a robot.”
Farritor has talked with officials from the Nebraska Department of Roads about how the robots would be most 59 to what they might need.
The robots could come in handy following a slow-moving maintenance operation, like painting a stripe on a road or moving asphalt, 60 now the barrels have to be picked up and moved as the operation 61. “That way you don’t have to block off a 10-mile strip for the operation ,” Farritor said.
62 prototypes have been made, they are not in use anywhere. Farritor said he has 63 for a patent and is considering what to do next. He is thinking about starting a small business. He is also thinking about 64 the robots to roads departments and others across the country who may 65 from them.
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52. A. block
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56. A. helpful
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61. A. proceeds
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64. A. saving
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65. A. benefit
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