A robotic roadworks system which could revolutionise the way roadworks has been developed by Scottish Gas Network (SGN) and New York-based robotic experts ULC Technologies.

Following three years of development, the new system is set to be trialled on a roadworks project.

The Department for Transport estimates that 2.5 million roadworks are carried out each year. Aside from the obvious delays, they cause pollution from heavy machinery and traffic queues, and can be dangerous for engineers digging below the surface of roads around cables and pipes.

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With funding from energy regulator Ofgem, The Robotic Roadworks and Excavation System, or RRES for short, has been created. It's an all-electric autonomous robot which can carry out the entire end-to-end excavation process.

The robot was unveiled to stakeholders from across the country today ahead of its first trial in the UK.