RUC on Rails Ltd

Kowalski is the proprietary data intelligence system that powers the research, comparison, and monitoring infrastructure behind RUC Hub and RUC Compare. It acquires, structures, and monitors publicly available information across the RUC ecosystem, transforming fragmented provider data into structured, queryable datasets. The system uses a three-layer extraction framework: deterministic rules for stable content, pattern-based logic for semi-structured data, and AI-assisted interpretation for ambiguous tables and PDFs. It continuously monitors tracked surfaces for meaningful changes in pricing, fees, disclosures, and layouts, with multi-stage validation including schema checks, cross-field integrity, and anomaly detection. Kowalski operates exclusively on public data with no authentication circumvention, respects rate limits, and follows a source governance process for all monitored surfaces.

RUC OS is the operational backbone powering RUC Pass. Built entirely in-house, it is a purpose-built management system designed to process, govern, and reconcile Road User Charge transactions across multiple channels. The transaction engine handles complete lifecycle management from vehicle lookup and quote generation through purchase, settlement, reconciliation, and invoicing - every stage structured and auditable. It supports multiple sales channels including retail networks, web checkout, mobile app, and API integrations, with configurable channel requirements and smart routing. The settlement system features multi-ledger support, configurable pricing rule sets, automated batch processing, and detailed invoicing with GST handling and NZTA RUC pass-through tracking.

Sentinel is a proprietary OBD-II hardware device developed during early automated RUC research phases. It was built as a distance engine, not a tracking device - it measures how far a vehicle has travelled, and nothing else. All primary distance computation occurs on-device using an ESP32-C3 (RISC-V) microcontroller running FreeRTOS. Distance is derived mathematically from vehicle motion data via the CAN bus interface, requiring no GPS, no mobile data, and no cloud dependency. The device uses a dual-mode measurement system: baseline OBD-II polling for universal vehicle support, and enhanced CAN extraction for higher-frequency sampling where available. Distance is persisted at fixed meter intervals with robustness guarantees against power interruption, vehicle shutdown, and connectivity loss.