Put in an order for custom tracks for a CTL or mini track loader, and you'll find it can be a long process from design to manufacture.

Thanks to a new system called TrackIQ from OTR Engineered Solutions, the design process can happen in as little as one day.

And yes, it involves AI.

TrackIQ is an AI-accelerated platfrom that combines the company's expertise with customer collaboration. The result is custom rubber track designs.

AI in construction: More talk than use, so far

“With TrackIQ, we are harnessing the power of AI to transform track development into a faster, more collaborative, and customer-focused process,” said Patrick Sexton, global VP of engineering, innovation and quality at OTR.

“The platform enables us to work with customers in real time, incorporate their aesthetic and performance requirements, and rapidly generate 3D track concepts for immediate review and evaluation.”

TrackIQ further accelerates the design process by providing detailed trade-off analyses that enable OTR engineers and customers to compare tread patterns across key performance criteria, including traction, ride quality, handling, and durability.

This collaborative approach helps customers select a design that balances visual appeal with the performance characteristics required for their application.

In other words, they can also tell you why putting your company's name in the tracks might be a bad idea for traction.

Physical 3D representation

As soon as the concept is selected, OTR engineers will build a physical 3D representation of the track and provide it to customers to support final sign-off before committing to prototype tooling.

“TrackIQ is our newest solution in a growing family of innovations, reinforcing our mission to develop high-quality products that deliver measurable results,” said Oscar Torres, CEO of OTR Engineered Solutions. “It reflects our forward-thinking approach and our continuous commitment to applying technology in practical ways that make our customers’ lives easier.”

TrackIQ joins TreadIQ, OTR’s AI-assisted tire concept design technology, and OTR3DLab, its large-scale physical prototyping capability, as part of OTR’s expanding AI-accelerated design and engineering approach. Together, these capabilities help customers move more efficiently from application-specific requirements to engineered concepts and physical evaluation.

OTR says it is currently the first — and only — company to offer this type of AI-assisted custom track design service.

The firm specializes in off-the-road tire, wheel, and track solutions for original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) and aftermarkets.