MILTPAS, Calif. — SafeAI Inc., a California enterprise focused on developing autonomous operating systems for heavy equipment, is partnering with Goodyear to incorporate tire intelligence into its programming for this sector.
The companies' collaboration will focus on the integration of Goodyear's TPMS-based tire intelligence-gathering capabilities with SafeAI's artificial-intelligence-based autonomous ecosystem with a goal of contributing to a "smarter, safer standard for the construction industry," Goodyear said.
The collaboration will start with one vehicle, a Caterpillar 725 articulated truck operating at a demonstration construction site in Cupertino, Calif. The vehicle, already operating autonomously at the site using SafeAI's autonomous software, will be retrofitted with Goodyear's rim-mounted sensors to enable the system to capture pressure and temperature data and monitor overall tire health.
These sensors can identify and communicate adverse conditions before they cause maintenance issues and derail a project, Goodyear said, noting that construction and mining sites typically are rife with inefficiencies, fueled by costly unplanned downtime rates as high as 20% to 30%.
Goodyear claims tire intelligence can help mitigate these challenges by identifying early or potential problems, such as underinflation, before they cause unexpected delays, thus potentially bolstering efficiency, safety and return on investment.
"No matter the vehicle – automobile, freight truck or dump truck – tire intelligence can help elevate safety, performance and efficiency," Chris Helsel, Goodyear senior vice president and chief technology officer.
"Through our work with SafeAI, we will not only empower site operators with greater visibility and efficiency, but also gain invaluable performance data to inform our future innovation in autonomy and heavy equipment."
Noting that Goodyear has been at the "forefront" of tire innovation for over 100 years, SafeAI Founder and CEO Bibrajit Halder, said: "At SafeAI, we strongly believe in a collaborative approach to deploying autonomy in construction and mining, at scale. We have purpose-built an interoperable autonomous technology that enables us to work with industry leaders like Goodyear and set the standard for autonomous heavy equipment."
Miltpas, Calif.-based SafeAI is focused on retrofitting heavy equipment for autonomous applications in mining and construction. By building a software platform with industry-specific AI, SafeAI enables equipment owners to transform existing machines into self-operating robotic assets.