Australians launch world-first trailer wheel bearing monitoring solution for trailerboat owners.
Two Brisbane-based engineers have launched a world-first smartphone wheel bearing monitoring system to help Australian travellers get to their destination safely and reduce the risk of wheel bearing failure while towing a boat, caravan or trailer.
Following their own near fatal wheel bearing failure, the pair were determined to develop a digital solution that could provide travellers with the knowledge needed to avoid bearing failure and travel with peace of mind when towing a large asset.
With many forced to put their overseas travel plans on hold, more and more Aussies are hitting the road, eager to experience the breathtaking landscapes Australia offers.
However, with 21% of roadside towing accidents caused by wheel bearing failures in certain countries (BoatU.S), and 30% of all regional Australia trips involving camping and caravanning (Caravan Industry Association of Australia, 2019), the introduction of Wheel Sensei could not come at a more suitable time.
Many of these families are new to towing and are not always equipped with the knowledge to do so safely.
Co-founder, Jason LaPorte says Wheel Sensei is the first product that provides drivers with real-time insights into bearing conditions while driving.
“We had no way of knowing our bearings would fail, because there was simply no product on the market that could accurately monitor wheel bearings at the time,” Jason states.
“We realised hundreds of thousands of other travellers were also towing boats, caravans and trailers with that same risk.”
Wheel Sensei is the first product that uses wireless smart sensors to send real-time notifications to the driver’s phone, alerting them of any bearing temperature changes, and prompting them to take action before a wheel bearing failure can occur.
According to Wheel Sensei’s co-founder Shane Hingst, “It’s a bit like having a temperature gauge for your engine. Drivers no longer need to stop every couple of hours to manually check their bearing temperatures. With Wheel Sensei, drivers receive instant alerts to any temperature changes,” he said.
