DUNLOP’s SENSING CORE System Adopted by Hino Motors HINO Blue Ribbon Shuttle Bus

DUNLOP’s (Company name: Sumitomo Rubber Industries, Ltd.; President and CEO: Yasuaki Kuniyasu) proprietary SENSING CORE technology, which detects the conditions of tires, vehicles, and road surfaces, was adopted for use in heavy-duty route/shuttle buses. They went on sale on August 21.

The technology is featured in Hino Motors’s new HINO Blue Ribbon heavy-duty route/shuttle buses. They come standard with the Wheel Detachment Prediction Detection System, one of the functions of SENSING CORE.

Overview of SENSING CORE technology and value it provides SENSING CORE is a software technology built upon the expertise gained from the Deflation Warning System (DWS), a tire pressure warning system. It analyzes wheel speed data generated by tire rotation, together with controller area network (CAN) data transmitted through the vehicle’s control system (i.e., vehicle control information), to detect various tire and road conditions, including tire pressure, tire wear, tire load, and signs of potential wheel detachment. The Wheel Detachment Prediction Detection System installed in the new HINO Blue Ribbon model is designed to detect the loosening of wheel nuts while the vehicle is in motion. If an abnormality is detected, the system alerts the driver through a warning message and buzzer. This capability allows wheel nut loosening to be detected even while driving, complementing conventional inspections and driver experience, and is expected to play a significant role in preventing wheel separation accidents.

Adoption of Wheel Detachment Prediction Detection System: Background Route/shuttle buses provide daily public transportation service for large numbers of passengers. Unlike cargo vehicles, buses are entrusted with human lives and thus must meet even higher standards of safety and reliability. In the bus industry, continuous efforts are made to further increase safety, for example, by rigorously enforcing safe driving practices, advancing operational management, and improving vehicle condition monitoring. Against this context, the provision of Wheel Detachment Prediction Detection System, a feature of our SENSING CORE technology, to buses enables early detection of signs of vehicle malfunctions and contributes to further improving safety on public bus routes.

Since 2026, we have unified all communication under the DUNLOP name. We aim to embody three core values across all of our products and services: “Confidence to Face Every Challenge,” “Experiences that Exceed Expectations,” and “Pushing Beyond Limits.” We will continue pursuing our goal of creating positive emotion through innovative experiences for people all over the world. DUNLOP’s brand statement, “TAKING YOU BEYOND,” reflects our commitment to continually expanding the possibilities for all those who embrace challenges and guiding them beyond their limits.

Source: DUNLOP