AKRON—Goodyear Tire and Rubber Co. is teaming up with EASE Logistics and the city of Dublin, Ohio, on a pilot program that will experiment in the areas of tire intelligence and cloud-based logistics.
Goodyear said March 3 that it will work with the logistics company, located in Dublin—a suburb of the Ohio's state capital of Columbus— and the city as part of the Smart Columbus initiative to advance connected mobility, according to a news release.
The three entities, according to the release, "will experiment in the areas of tire intelligence and cloud-based logistics, among others, within an innovation region located in and around Columbus, Ohio, known as the Beta District. With the potential to share and enhance data on connected mobility, these experiments could lead to new products and solutions that will benefit trucking fleets, consumers and cities in the future."
Initial tests in the pilot include installing Goodyear TPMS Plus systems on eight EASE Logistics vehicles traveling throughout the Beta District outside of Columbus, a location for testing connected vehicle technology, the release said. The Goodyear TPMS Plus systems will monitor tire conditions such as pressure and temperature in real time, which can improve vehicle safety and handling. EASE Logistics then can use the data to be proactive about maintenance and routing decisions that could improve traffic flow in the area, the organizations said.
"Goodyear has a longstanding reputation for innovation and plays a leading role in global initiatives to advance mobility," Johnny McIntosh, director of Integrated Solutions and Tire Management at Goodyear, said in a statement. "We continuously look for opportunities to collaborate with like-minded groups, such as EASE Logistics and the city of Dublin, to test and learn with the ultimate goal of discovering new mobility solutions."
Goodyear, over the past few years, has made strides on the mobility front with several partnerships as it tries to position itself as a leader in tire technology that complements electric vehicles, autonomous vehicles and connected vehicles. The company recently announced that it will acquire Cooper Tire & Rubber Co. and hopes that the combination of the businesses' technology efforts will help it continue along the mobility path.
As part of the Beta District, Dublin got on board with the pilot because of its work to be among the most connected communities in the U.S., according to the release. Plus, looking at practicality, it is located in the same state as Goodyear and EASE Logistics. EASE Logistics officials said the company shares common values regarding safety, sustainability and service with the Akron tire maker.
"The Beta District is where companies work collaboratively with nonprofits, academia and government entities in an open playground to safely launch, test and evolve new technology in real-world settings," said Doug McCollough, chief information officer for the city of Dublin, in the release. "Leveraging expertise in distribution and logistics through EASE Logistics, with the global research and development capabilities of Goodyear, the city of Dublin offers the truly unique public perspective of local government dedicated to fostering innovation in the smart mobility space."
