Demonstration Pilot in Megara, Greece

The second HERON pilot took place in April and May 2025, along a selected stretch of the Elefsina–Korinthos–Patra motorway, one of Greece’s busiest highway corridors. Operated by Olympia Odos, this section features high-traffic density, bridges, tunnels, and complex infrastructure, thus making it an ideal setting to test the HERON platform in demanding, real-world conditions.

During the demonstration, the HERON system was deployed to carry out pavement maintenance tasks, including repainting blurred road markings, sealing cracks, and patching potholes, common issues automatically detected through aerial and ground-based inspections. The pilot also showcased automated cone placement and removal by the HERON UGV to increase worker safety and minimize the need for manual intervention.

Integration of the HERON system into Olympia Odos’ existing systems was a key part of the demonstration. Real-time monitoring tools, used for asset and traffic management, were connected to the HERON backend, enabling seamless coordination between HERON’s autonomous functions and the operator’s command systems. This alignment allowed for mission planning based on current road conditions, with the HERON system executing targeted interventions accordingly.

During this pilot, the HERON system underwent a comprehensive demonstration, showcasing its full operational workflow from inspection to intervention. The pilot highlighted the seamless collaboration between the HERON unmanned aerial vehicle, the patrol vehicles, and the ground-based HERON UGV, coordinated through an integrated software environment.

Inspection operations were initiated by both aerial and ground platforms, capturing high-resolution imaging data embedded with GPS metadata. This data was processed using HERON’s visual analysis and deep learning tools to identify road surface defects, such as potholes, cracks, and faded markings, and convert them into actionable tasks through geo-localized annotations and segmentation masks. The results were made available for operator validation via the HERON interface.

Building on this input, the HERON robotic unit executed a series of targeted maintenance actions. The robot performed automated cone placement, pothole patching, crack sealing, and road marking repainting, each coordinated through a series of mission steps including localization, trajectory planning, and precision execution. The system also handled fallback scenarios through manual overrides and adaptive behaviors when necessary.

The demonstration in Megara confirmed HERON’s framework readiness to autonomously manage a range of road maintenance tasks, minimizing manual effort while increasing operational accuracy and efficiency. The pilot exemplified how HERON merges robotic precision with intelligent decision-making, paving the way for safer, smarter, and more cost-effective infrastructure management.