Continental, a technology company, automotive supplier and premium tire manufacturer, is helping to make the world’s roads safer using the Internet of Things (IoT). Continental’s new digital tire monitoring platform, ContiConnect, uses Vodafone’s IoT SIM technology to collect tire pressure data for commercial vehicle fleets every time the trucks return to the fleet terminal, and display it in a mobile-friendly web portal that can be accessed from anywhere in the world.
With ContiConnect, fleets are able to replace manual and routine tire care with automatic and targeted care, fixing issues where they are known to exist and saving inspection and maintenance time. The wireless sensors, mounted inside the truck tires, collect accurate tire pressure and temperature data. The sensors can also identify creeping air loss, one of the major causes of tire failure, before it would typically be noticed in a pre- or post-trip inspection.
The captured data is transmitted as soon as the sensors come within range of the receiver unit, which is known as a yard reader station since it is typically mounted in the fleet yard. The yard reader station then transmits the data in real-time to the Continental backend where a software program analyzes it and displays it in the ContiConnect web portal. If any of the values are critical, ContiConnect sends an alert via text or email so that the fleet manager can take action immediately.
“Fleets no longer have to rely on performing tire pressure checks on tens, hundreds, or even thousands of tires on their vehicles" stated Paul Williams, Continental’s executive vice president of Commercial Vehicle Tires in the Americas. "With ContiConnect, they will know immediately upon returning to the fleet terminal whether any tires have low pressure. Leveraging the IoT saves fleets time and money by protecting their tires, and improves safety for everyone who drives on the roadway.”
Vodafone’s IoT Director Stefano Gestaut said, “This is a great example of how IoT can make real world differences in so many unexpected places. This ensures that truck drivers experience fewer tire-related breakdowns and accidents – making the roads a safer place to be for every vehicle user.”
To hear from one of Continental's trial customers: click here.
