1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
34
35
36
37
38
39
40
41
42
43
44
45
46
47
48
49
50
51
52
53
54
55
56
57
58
59
60
61
62
63
64
65
66
67
68
69
70
71
72
73
74
75
76
77
78
79
80
81
82
83
84
85
86
87
88
89
90
91
92
93
94
95
96
97
98
99
100
101
102
103
104
105
106
107
108
109
110
111
112
113
114
115
116
117
118
119
120
121
122
123
124
125
126
127
128
129
130
131
132
133
134
135
136
137
138
139
140
141
142
143
144
145
146
147
148
149
150
151
152
153
154
155
156
157
158
159
160
161
162
163
164
165
166
167
168
169
170
171
172
173
174
175
176 
Pneu Logic system helps maintain tyres
Page 20
If you've noticed an error in this article please click here to report it so we can fix it.
0 by Brian Weatheriey
Michelin has introduced two new electronic tyre maintenance and condition tracking tools for fleet operators and tyre service providers alike.
Pneu Logic is a hand-held workshop computer that captures and collates tyre data, which is then available to the operator and local tyre dealer the day after fleet inspection. Using a separate electronic device, the fitter inspects a vehicle's tyres to measure tyre pressure and tread depth, which is then transferred by a wireless connection to the Pneu Logic unit. Once the fleet audit is complete, the Pneu Logic computer automatically uploads the fleet Inspection results to a central server run by Michelin, together with any damage details and necessary work or recommendations for the fleet manager to approve.
The central server then integrates the audit data into the main Michelin database as a 'non-changeable' file with details of the full-site audit, which is then sent via e-mail to the fleet manager, local tyre dealer and Michelin account manager.
The Pneu Logic hand-held computer can be used in all weathers and has a back-lit screen for low-light conditions. The system has already been trialled by one of Michelin's fleet customers, Allied Bakeries, which operators some 1,400 heavy and light commercials. Fleet engineer Ian Rudd reports: "Based on the results of this pilot, we're confident this technology will save time at the data capture process, improving the accuracy of management reporting."
The Smartronics' system is built around the electronic tagging of a vehicle and its tyres which are monitored via Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) to provide further fleet information. The vehicle data tag identifies the individual truck or trailer together with its tyre details and last inspection report. The tyre tag contains the tyre's life-history and performance, including a full record of re-grooving or remixing. The 128K chip is fixed to the inside of the casing under the tread by a conventional tyre patch, and is not affected by remixing. It also retains its information if switched to another vehicle in the fleet.
With the tags in place, the fitter uses a mobile-phone-style hand-held device to read the data they hold. As a fitter checks tyre pressures and depth with the electronic gauge, the data is not only captured on the vehicle and tyre tags for reference at the next inspection, but also sent to Michelin's main server, updating each vehicle and tyre history. The database is then used to generate an automated summary of each fleet inspection for the account manager or service provider. The system is currently being rolled out to a wider audience after the initial pilot project with Reading Bus Company.
According to Thierry Martin, Michelin's commercial director: "Smartronics will make the whole tyre monitoring process quicker and more accurate. The hand-held unit and data tags eliminate the problems of using a pen and paper outside in bad weather conditions and remove the potential for paperwork getting lost in the post—as well as the delays which occur whilst transferring paper records onto a central database."