Kal Tire Develop Autonomous Tyre Inspection System

Leading tyre supply and management partner, Kal Tire’s Mining Tire Group, have teamed up with vision systems specialists Pitcrew AI, to develop an autonomous detection system. The solution is able to identify hot tyres, tyre separations and other tyre damage, without the vehicle needing to stop.

Any defects or abnormalities are transmitted directly into TOMS, Kal Tire’s proprietary Tire Operations Management System. This seamless integration allows for real-time decision making which enhances the productivity and safety of the fleet.

“Tyre pressure monitoring systems (TPMS) can give a strong picture of what’s happening inside the tyre, but so much that can indicate the potential for tyre failure happens outside the tyre. We knew if we wanted to give customers the ability to make better operational decisions – and be a part of the future of autonomous mining – we’d need to add external telematics to the mix,” says Dan Allan, Senior Vice President, Kal Tire’s Mining Tire Group. “Pitcrew’s AI, and their vision for the technology, supports our goal of solving customer challenges in practical, impactful ways.”

As trucks pass by, both the front and rear tyres are tracked by the inspection system. The AI software looks for any anomalies and reports any findings to TOMS. This information is then used to schedule tyre changes as necessary based on damage severity.

The system has proven to be successful in hot weather regions and the teams are looking to develop a similar solution for cold weather areas. A test ‘winter model’ is now operational in northern Canada.

If you would like an informal chat about your automated inspection needs please call Shelton Vision on +44 (0) 116 279 0920 or fill in our online contact form

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