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Tire health has a huge encroachment on a truck ’s fuel efficiency and safety on the road .
And yet , with all of the arguably sexier solutions out there pop the question driver assist have andself - driving software , tires do n’t get the attending they deserve . At least , so says Ron Lee , the headland of business development atBANF , a inauguration that make hardware and software to supervise tire wellness .
Korea - based BANF , which resist for Begin A New Feature , uses sensors to collect datum on tyre pressure , temperature , tread wear , wheel alignment , and even lug addict stability . That data point is canvas using machine learning to render drivers and fleet managers with insights about not only tyre health , but also cargo load measure and road control surface conditions . Lee enunciate BANF ’s insights are up to 90 % accurate , and are utile to everyone from fleet management companies to OEMs to department of transportation .
“ Tires are the exclusive point of tangency with the route , ” Lee told TechCrunch . “ We ’re not saying that we ’re replacing vision - based methodology of capture potholes or road conditions , but we ’re more of a complemental solution . We are more accurate at capturing road coefficient and also the astuteness of potholes , which is one of the key index that road management needs to know because they have limited budgets , so they have to live where to prioritize . ”
The four - yr - old startup , which has performance in Korea and China and contrive to set in motion in Texas , is coming online at a time when self-governing trucks are gaining a footing on highways .
“ self-governing vehicle , their aim is to run 24/7 to maximize lucre , which means more tyre tension , ” Lee say , noting that galvanic vehicles are also heavier due to their battery , which can get into down tires . “ Tire datum will be even more important in the future . ”
Tire incumbents have comprehend smart tire technical school in late years , and they ’ve institute client in AV startup . May MobilityandKodiak Roboticsboth swear on Bridgestone ’s in - wheel sensors and predictive algorithms for tire - wellness monitoring , andGatik relies on Goodyear’sroad - friction signal detection technology . Bridgestone invested in startup Tyrata , a tire detector and information direction caller , in 2022 , andGoodyear - backed Tactile Mobility , which uses practical sensing element and cloud calculation to estimate tire grip , in 2021 .
BANF , which is compete in theTechCrunch Disrupt 2024Startup Battlefield , has a somewhat different solution from others in the industry . The principal piece of its hardware oblation is a “ triaxis ” detector that ’s mounted to the inner liner of the tyre and measures motion and forces along the ex - axis , or distance of the motortruck , like acceleration or deceleration ; capture Y - axis side - to - side movement , like when the truck is turning or swerve ; and measures the Z - bloc , or up - and - down motion , of the truck , like bumps and route shakiness .
The detector also has pressing and temperature sensors , and can send tender information via Bluetooth to the next bit of computer hardware in BANF ’s stack , the “ smart profiler . ”
The profiler represent as a vector , receiver , and battery charger all in one . It confiscate to the truck ’s mud flap and is connected to the fomite ’s stamp battery so it can supply wireless power and a continual power supply to the detector . It also facilitates the transfer of sensor datum to wherever the client wants to receive that data , whether that be telematic devices , fleet management gimmick , or even to the fomite ’s onboard system for tangible - fourth dimension monitoring and analysis .
The whole system cost $ 50 per vehicle per month , sound out Lee . He also sound out BANF ’s tech could preserve fleet proprietor up to $ 4,500 per truck every year on fuel consumption and tyre sustenance .
BANF is presently cooperate with Volvo Group , Hyundai Motor Group , and DHL on various projects . Lee say BANF ’s technical school is currently on 123 vehicle , including four rider vehicles , with the ease on Class 8 trucks work in Sweden , the U.S. , India , Korea , and China .
The executive say BANF is working with major tyre manufacturers in the U.S. to commercialize the startup ’s tech via a profit - sharing agreement by the end of 2026 .
BANF raised a $ 5 million pre - Series A last yr , and is close to closing a $ 12 million Series A round , allot to Lee . BANF aim to begin trade on Korea ’s livestock exchange at the end of 2027 , and then strain its hand at a U.S. Nasdaq IPO . But Lee enounce BANF is undetermined to other issue opportunities .
“ We have many exit options , and not just to the tire companies , ” Lee said . “ We could be very beneficial to commercial vehicle manufacturers to succeed over market place part . And also fleet direction companies , telematic equipment company , even indemnity companies . ”
