A new artificial intelligence system is aiming to help ski resorts improve chairlift safety by detecting unseated passengers and checking whether restraint bars are lowered before chairs leave the loading terminal.
Bar-Down.AI is developing computer-vision technology designed to monitor chairlift operations in real time, alerting lift operators when it identifies potentially unsafe situations. The company hopes its system can help mountain operations teams reduce risks, improve oversight, and maintain detailed records of safety incidents.
The system uses AI-powered computer vision to analyze video feeds from existing resort cameras, identifying passengers who are not properly seated and determining whether chairlift restraint bars are in the correct position.
When the technology detects a potential safety issue, it sends an alert to lift operators, potentially giving them valuable time to stop the lift before an incident occurs.
Bar-Down.AI uses a three-step process to monitor operations. It detects unsafe situations through camera feeds, alerts operators when problems arise, and documents incidents with timestamped imagery.
The company says its technology can work with existing surveillance equipment, potentially allowing resorts to implement the system without installing additional cameras or undertaking extensive infrastructure projects. New camera installations are also available when needed.
A Live Dashboard for Lift Operators
Bar-Down.AI provides operators with a browser-based dashboard that displays information about lift operations and safety compliance.
The dashboard tracks restraint-bar compliance, counts safe and unsafe chairlift observations, measures chair throughput, and allows staff to flag individual video frames for incident reviews.
By collecting this information, the system aims to give mountain management a clearer picture of lift utilization, recurring safety concerns, and potential operational bottlenecks throughout the season. The technology can also be used to monitor magic carpets, with the system designed to identify falls and flag potentially unsafe rider positioning.
Bar-Down.AI says its technology is intended to support lift crews rather than replace them. The company highlights improved guest safety, reduced operational liability, and better data collection as its primary goals. The company was developed by a team with experience building more than 100,000 automated vision systems for manufacturing, logistics, security, and robotics.
