SOLIHULL Council is replacing traditional sticks and string with a new Robot Pitch Marker – saving ninety-five minutes per pitch and freeing up staff for other essential work in parks across the borough.
The Robot Pitch Marker is fully autonomous and can paint Solihull’s pitches at the click of a button using virtual mapping software.
Traditional methods take around two hours per pitch, but the new robot takes just 25 minutes.
The robot uses environmentally friendly ready-mixed paint and is fitted with safety sensors so the robot senses anything – human or animal – in its path and stops.
It is also fitted with a tracking device so can be easily tracked and found if taken.
Children aged 13 years and under are invited to send in suggestions for the robot.
There’s a £100 gift voucher up for grabs and free pitch or playground marking for the winner’s school or club.
Coun Ken Hawkins, Solihull Council’s cabinet member for infrastructure, joined the council’s environmental contractors Veolia and their partners idverde in a demonstration of their newest technology.
He said: “The new Robot Pitch Marker will save staff a huge amount of time marking out pitches before the new season.
“We have 36 football and rugby pitches in the borough so all in all we’re saving 57 hours of staff time with this clever bit of kit.
“That’s time that staff can spend on other important work in our parks across the borough for the benefit of residents, visitors and local wildlife.
“We’d love to give our new robot a name though – so please help by sending in your suggestions.”
