Startup PitPro Automation has installed the first robotic system for car tire replacement at the Kal Tire service center in Calgary. According to the company, the system can service a car and replace four wheels in less than 15 minutes. The design is intended for placement inside a standard repair bay and consists of two compact robotic modules. They use sensors and manipulators to determine the position of wheel nuts, loosen them, remove the wheel, retain the fasteners, and install another tire. This approach is primarily aimed at service networks where bay layouts are standardized, allowing one technological platform to be used for various maintenance operations.
Developers view tire service automation as a separate direction against the backdrop of a shortage of staff in service centers. According to PitPro founder Jeremy Conrad, working with wheels requires significant physical effort, and employees often do not stay long in such positions. Currently, the company maintains a focus on commercial fleets, where identical operations can be performed in large quantities. Additionally, the annual seasonal tire change creates an additional application scenario for the system, especially for the Canadian market. In the future, PitPro intends to expand automation to other types of car maintenance, although the company does not disclose specific timelines for such a transition. Former Ford Pro director Ted Cannis has also become a consultant for the startup, helping the company establish contacts with large fleet operators.
The practical operation of robots requires consideration of the conditions in which tire service workshops typically operate. Open doors expose the equipment to dust, debris, and weather factors, so developers need to protect the mechanics while maintaining sensor accuracy in wheel recognition. In the first installation in Calgary, an unusual factor even emerged: the robot housings were covered with dandelion seeds. According to Conrad, this did not create critical problems for the system but showed how diverse real operating conditions can be. For PitPro, the launch in Canada marks the first practical stage following the technology's presentation, and further expansion will depend on the reliability of the equipment, the characteristics of service sites, and how easily robotic bays integrate into existing processes.
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