AKRON, OH, November 2, 2021 – DRB, an Akron, Ohio-based provider of car wash point-of-sale and optimization technology, announced that it has been awarded a patent for NoPileups, a full-tunnel optimization system for conveyorized car washes designed to reduce in-tunnel collisions and optimize tunnel capacity.
The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) issued U.S. Pat. No. 11,127,283 relating to NoPileups on September 21. The patent covers NoPileups’ ability to configure cameras, LIDAR, RADAR or SONAR to track the relative positions of vehicles in the tunnel and trigger a stop of the conveyor and wash equipment when a collision threat is detected.
NoPileups was developed to solve the growing challenges of in-tunnel collisions, particularly with the prevalence of Automatic Braking Systems. The system uses computer vision and machine learning technology to monitor car wash tunnels and automatically stop the conveyor when collision threats are detected. With NoPileups preventing in-tunnel collisions, car wash operators can confidently load vehicles at optimum levels, allowing them to wash more cars during peak hours. It also helps them identify misaligned equipment so the tunnel runs at top performance.
“NoPileups has been a true game-changer in the car wash industry, helping its users save money on damages and preserve their reputation all while increasing their operational efficiency,” said Dan Pittman, President of DRB. “NoPileups is now not only the most advanced anti-collision system, but it is also the only patented full-tunnel optimization system.”
The first NoPileups system was installed in 2016. There are now more than 700 NoPileups systems installed in car washes across the United States.
ABOUT DRB
For over a third of a century, DRB supported – and often drove – an era of unprecedented growth in the car wash industry with point-of-sale and wash optimization software, hardware and services. Now as a masterbrand that includes DRB Tunnel Solutions, DRB In-Bay Solutions (formerly Unitec®), Suds™ and Washify®, that tradition continues. The DRB team works together toward a singular goal: To help all car wash operators squeeze every ounce of profitability out of their investments. DRB delivers this with data and industry insights, a best-in-class team and reliable, intuitive innovations that delight consumers and are secure, simple to service and easy to use.