The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company has announced the first tyre intelligence solution for cargo van fleets. Called Goodyear SightLine, the system uses sensors with cloud-based algorithms to communicate with fleet operators in real-time.
Initially available in North America and Europe, the system will help enable seamless, safe and reliable mobility for all vehicles starting with cargo vans serving the field service, construction and last-mile delivery industries.
In the future, Goodyear SightLine technology will provide feedback on the tyre and provide feedback on road conditions, enabling connected, autonomous mobility. Initial testing has shown that integrating the system into a vehicle's control's unit can reduce stopping distance loss by 30%.
According to the tyre maker, the system will also be available to the company's original equipment customers and emerging fleet and mobility providers. Its proprietary predictive maintenance technologies can help to address many challenges facing drivers and fleet managers today, including predicting breakdowns, minimising downtime and monitoring tyre pressure and wear for enhanced safety and more cost-efficient mobility.
Chris Helsel, Senior Vice President, Global Operations and Chief Technology Officer, said much like smart watches that monitor vitals like heartrates and oxygen levels, Goodyear SightLine's tyre intelligence monitors the health of a tyre. It takes the mystery out of understanding tyres and provides proactive mobility insights to communicate when they need service or replacement.
Through pilot programmes, the tyre maker has accumulated billions of test miles on tyre solutions powered by Goodyear SightLine. With the launch, it establishes the groundwork for a connected-tyre future in which every tyre provides intelligence. The company has articulated a goal to have tyre intelligence in all new products by 2027.