Peterbilt will have deployed 200 of its patented ARTech augmented reality tools to dealer locations by March 31, 2022, in an effort to improve customer uptime.

ARTech uses 3D and augmented reality views of chassis-specific Peterbilt trucks, along with existing service systems such as Paccar Solutions Service Management, to help dealer service technicians visualize major truck systems and access related technical documentation and diagrams via an Apple iPad. 

“We analyzed technicians’ pain points and focused on key technologies required to put all of the correct and pertinent data from multiple databases in one single location at their fingertips,” said Peyton Harrell, director of dealer development for Peterbilt. “The result is our ARTech tool, which transforms 2D technical information into a 3D image by placing full-scale objects on top of the real environment.

This technology provides technicians “a type of X-ray vision” to help improve diagnostic and repair times, Harrell said. Dealerships that are using ARTech in their service bays have reported a 15-20% improvement in service repair times.

“Instead of having to carry a laptop, an adapter and other tools to be able to pull information up on a laptop, now you're carrying an iPad with all of the information in one convenient location,” said Mike Lacey, Western regional product support manager at Ohio Peterbilt. “This has been a huge timesaver in pinpointing and troubleshooting codes and issues, speeding up the process and getting our customers’ trucks back on the road as quickly as possible.”

The technology was tested at select Peterbilt dealerships.

“This technology spans the gap between 2D technical data trapped on paper or on screens and the real vehicle in the service bay,” said Jason Skoog, Peterbilt general manager and Paccar vice president.