Pitcrew AI keeps mobile assets operating safely and productively. Its OTR tyre inspection solution is a stand-alone, solar-powered system placed at the side of haul roads, which automatically inspects every vehicle over a 24-hour period without human intervention. Key technologies include longwave infrared thermal imaging and AI-based computer vision inspection. The system has prevented tyre fires from occurring and has helped to increase the average tyre life.
As the mining industry rapidly trends toward autonomous vehicles, enormous resources and effort are being directed towards autonomous driving and autopilot systems. These systems now surpass human drivers under most operating conditions.
Drivers, however, do more than simply pilot the vehicle. For example, they notice a flat or bald tyre at pre-vehicle checks, they feel or hear a rattle from the engine bay, they smell fumes or smoke.
Replacing and improving upon these human-driver functions is critical to realising the full benefits of the autonomous fleets of the future. That’s where Pitcrew AI comes in by keeping mobile assets operating safely and productively.
Its latest product offering addresses off-the-road (OTR) tyre damage and tyre fires, a major safety and financial risk to mine operations. Tyres are typically a top 5 cost centre for mining operations and extending tyre life results in significant savings to operating expenses.
Minor damage, such as a simple rock cut, can result in tyre failure. Not discovering issues early results in unplanned downtime to change the tyre or tyres. Plus, the cost of the tyre itself.
A hot tyre event can remove a vehicle from operation and be a significant disruption to site operations. Tyre fires are catastrophic and destroy expensive critical equipment.
The OTR tyre inspection solution is a stand-alone solar powered system, placed at the side of the haul road. It automatically inspects every vehicle 24/7 without any human intervention. Key technologies include longwave infrared thermal imaging and AI-based computer vision inspection. The system has prevented numerous tyre fires from occurring and has helped to reduce haul truck downtime while increasing the average tyre life.
By using the Pitcrew AI solution, and detecting damage early, mining companies can increase tyre repair rates and reduce the average repair cost. They can forecast the progression of tyre damage, plan for tyre changes and better manage tyre inventory. This reduces time in the tyre bay for the haul fleet and helps to extract maximum operating life of tyres.
The system can detect:
small tyre injuries resulting from physical rock and debris damage
overwork induced heat separations of the tread and casing
belt edge separations resulting from high cornering loads
tyre surface temperature excursions and anomalies.
It improves safety by reducing unnecessary inspections, removing technician out of harm’s way. It can also eliminate preventable tyre fires and reduce the risk of catastrophic tyre failure by detecting damage early.
The trained AI system automatically detects damage, which means vehicles are only brought down for inspection when required. Condition based rather than routine inspection reduces vehicle downtime. Operators can identify haul road maintenance issues in real time, and target inspections.
Finally, tyre repair uses less raw materials and production energy than manufacturing a new tyre. This can save significant carbon emissions and help to meet sustainability goals, making the OTR tyre inspection solution a more environmentally friendly option.
Pitcrew AI’s mission is to provide autonomous inspection for autonomous fleets.
