- Extremely high read rates ensure that vehicle's Commercial
Vehicle Safety Alliance (CVSA) inspection status may be determined
in advance of reaching inspection facilities
- Artificial Intelligence is used to automatically sort
vehicles based on a visual indicator of the vehicles' inspection
status
SASKATOON, SK, June 28, 2021 /PRNewswire/ - International Road
Dynamics Inc. ("IRD" or the "Company"), a Quarterhill Inc.
("Quarterhill") company (TSX: QTRH) (OTCQX: QTRHF), is pleased to
announce the launch of a new CVSA decal reader system that utilizes
Artificial Intelligence (AI) and machine vision technology. AI
enables superior read rates of CVSA decals and makes IRD's CVSA
decal reader ideal for automatic pre-screening of commercial
vehicles travelling at highway speeds in advance of weigh
stations.
Much of the work of inspectors at weigh station facilities
involves performing visual inspections, including checking for
expired CVSA inspection decals. AI, coupled with machine vision
technology, offers the opportunity to automate this task and refine
pre-selection in advance of the weigh station. This ensures that
vehicles with expired decals, that may not have been recently
inspected, are prioritized for inspection – potentially improving
the fairness and effectiveness of commercial vehicle enforcement.
Freight transportation efficiency may also improve when recently
inspected vehicles are permitted to bypass weigh stations. This
technology may also enable safer operations for inspectors.
Many weigh stations are already equipped with machine vision
technology to provide images of commercial vehicles matched with
Weigh-In-Motion (WIM) information or for providing images to permit
vehicle identification using optical character recognition (OCR) of
license plate or DOT numbers. There is potential for existing
cameras to be augmented with IRD's CVSA decal reader system at
hundreds of pre-screening locations across North America.
"This is a very exciting moment for our industry," commented
Rish Malhotra, IRD's President and CEO. "AI-specific processing
units coupled with powerful industrial computers are enabling deep
neural network and machine vision-based transportation system
applications that are creating opportunities for agencies to
achieve their road safety goals in a cost-effective manner while
enhancing transportation efficiency. The CVSA decal reader is IRD's
first commercial product that integrates AI with IRD's iSINC®
Weigh-In-Motion (WIM) controllers, and we see tremendous potential
for more AI applications in the near future. We believe these will
fortify IRD's leadership position in the Commercial Vehicle
Enforcement market."
The technology was developed in cooperation with the
University of Saskatchewan's Computer
Engineering Research Lab and with assistance from Mitacs, a
non-profit national Canadian research organization that supports
industrial and social innovation.
About IRD
IRD is a dynamic technology company engaged
in developing key components and advanced systems for the next
generation of transportation networks. Together with subsidiaries
PAT Traffic and ICOMS Detections, IRD supplies Intelligent
Transportation Systems (ITS) to private corporations,
transportation agencies, and highway authorities around the world.
IRD's systems make highways safer, greener, and more efficient.
Known globally as a trusted partner providing sales, service, and
installation support on major ITS projects for over 40 years, IRD
contributes to creating smarter cities by empowering engineering
and urban planning professionals to access reliable traffic data.
For more information: www.irdinc.com
About Quarterhill
Quarterhill is a growth-oriented
company in the Intellectual Property and Intelligent Transportation
System (ITS) industries. Our goal is to pursue an investment
strategy that capitalizes on attractive market trends in both ITS
and its adjacent markets. Quarterhill is listed on the TSX under
the symbol QTRH and on the OTCQX Best Market under the symbol
QTRHF. For more information: www.quarterhill.com
Forward-Looking Information
This news release
contains forward-looking statements regarding IRD, Quarterhill and
their businesses. Forward-looking statements are based on estimates
and assumptions made by IRD and/or Quarterhill in light of their
experience and perception of historical trends, current conditions,
expected future developments and the expected effects of new
business strategies, as well as other factors that IRD and/or
Quarterhill believe are appropriate in the circumstances. The
forward-looking events and circumstances discussed herein may not
occur and could differ materially as a result of known and unknown
risk factors and uncertainties affecting IRD and/or Quarterhill,
including: potential risks and uncertainties relating to the
ultimate geographic spread of the novel coronavirus ("COVID-19");
the severity of the disease; the duration of the COVID-19 outbreak;
actions that may be taken by governmental authorities to contain
the COVID-19 outbreak or to treat its impact; the potential
negative impacts of COVID-19 on the global economy and financial
markets and any resulting impact on IRD and/or Quarterhill and/or
their businesses. Other factors include, without limitation, the
risks described in Quarterhill's March 11,
2021 annual information form for the year ended December 31, 2020 (the "AIF"). Copies of the AIF
may be obtained at www.sedar.com. IRD and Quarterhill recommend
that readers review and consider all of these risk factors and
notes that readers should not place undue reliance on any of IRD's
forward-looking statements. IRD has no intention, and undertakes no
obligation, to update or revise any forward-looking statements,
whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise,
except as required by law.
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content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/ird-introduces-ai-enabled-cvsa-decal-reader-for-commercial-vehicle-operations-301320765.html
SOURCE International Road Dynamics
