AGAWAM, Mass. -- Some Bay State high school students are on the brink of a technological breakthrough -- they're developing a device that is sure to make millions of commuters happy.

Video

Pam Cross Reports On Invention

NewsCenter 5's Pam Cross reported that the invention is a pothole predictor.

The device is an odd combination of metal work, tubes and wires controlled by a video game-like joystick.

"We just started with a pen and paper to make the first drawings, and we just put them into (computer-aided designs) and then from that, we came up with the solid pieces," said student Neil Cameron.

"My wife had hit a pothole, one of the students had hit a pothole, and we were brainstorming and I said we ought to fix that -- no more potholes. And they said, 'Yeah, we'll do that,'" said teacher John Burns.

Every winter and spring drivers fall victim to potholes and young minds are working on a solution.

"This is our Road Iron. We named it because our slogan was going to be that we iron out the wrinkles in your road," said student Nicole Cristelli.

The Agawam High School Robotics Club devised the pothole predictor. Using money from an Massachusetts Institute of Technology grant they created a machine that can find hollow places under pavement, drill in and fill them. In other words, stop potholes before they form. The students are testing it now on a strip of road outside the school and they may try it on city streets next month.

"We want to give the students a taste of the modern corporate world. We are investigating all options. We are working on patents and stuff like that. We will see if we can sell them," said student Kristopher Kelly. "I did not expect to get this far, and shame on me for doubting us, because we did a great job."

Can it work? Some companies think it might and they're gambling time and equipment that the students are driving down the right path.