Weather Telematics launches AI-powered Alert Fleet
Weather Telematics, a subsidiary of Canadian software provider Internet of Things Inc (ITT), is preparing to launch Alert Fleet, which the company says is a cost-saving sensor system that will provide fleet owners with the tools they need to run safer and more efficient fleets.
The Alert Fleet system is based on advanced artificial intelligence, deep machine learning and data science techniques that are at the core of Weather Telematics’ legacy business. The system is built on the same pre-existing WTX technology platform that is integral to ITT’s recently announced ThermalPass fever detection system. Weather Telematics says it is in discussions with multiple fleet management companies to install Alert Fleet on a POC basis, with candidates to be selected in the coming weeks. Once commercially deployed, the Alert Fleet system will run as a software-as-a-service (SaaS) model with a monthly recurring revenue component proportionate to the number of vehicles within a customer’s fleet.
“Allowing fleet operators to incorporate powerful telematics data with our AI-enhanced analytics enables drivers and dispatchers to mitigate risk and react to adverse “down-road” weather conditions in real-time,” said Michael Lende, president and CEO of ITT. “Heavy vehicle accidents tend to have catastrophic consequences and are financially debilitating to fleet owners. Even avoiding one single incident is likely to lead to considerable savings in terms of potential vehicle damage, personal injury and insurance premium adjustments.
“With that in mind, Alert Fleet was designed to accurately deliver instant road weather alerts in response to imminent risks facing fleet vehicles and drivers, 24-hours a day, 365 days a year. Our Weather Telematics technology is the key to our multi-vertical AI-driven strategy, which includes our ThermalPass fever detection system. We are developing a full suite of AI and data-driven solutions based on our core technology, which is designed to provide affordable solutions that mitigate risk while driving costs down and increasing efficiencies for real-world challenges.”
Using patented sensor hardware installed on fleet vehicles, in combination with artificial intelligence and proprietary data sets, the Alert Fleet system generates hyperlocal, advanced, road weather data that instantaneously provides real-time alerts of any and all hazardous road conditions, the company maintained. When the system detects surface conditions such as black ice, freezing rain, fog, hydroplaning risk, slush or snow, immediate alerts are issued. Alert Fleet will provide warnings of oncoming, higher-risk conditions from 200 meters to hundreds of kilometers in advance. The Alert Fleet system can be integrated into existing telematic service provider portals or available as a standalone product. Alerts are simultaneously delivered to the driver inside the vehicle and to a dispatcher via E-Mail/SMS, mobile and web app integrations.
Weather risk is a major cost factor affecting North America’s transportation industry. More than 10% of US GDP is directly affected by weather and climate change. As extreme weather events become more commonplace, the demand for hyper local weather data is enormous. There are approximately 400,000 accidents per year involving 18-wheelers with the total economic cost topping $112 billion, and more than 20% of these accidents being weather-related.
The market for Weather Telematics’ Alert Fleet includes commercial truck fleets; roadside assistance and tow truck fleets; taxis; courier fleets; secure transport fleets; telematics service providers; EMS, police and fire; and the insurance and risk management industry.
Visit weathertelematics.com for more information.
