Inteligent tyres

[Tony]

Tyres capable of monitoring themselves, road conditions and 'talking' with a vehicle's electronic systems will be available within three years, heralding 'a revolution in traction technology'.

 

Pirelli - the thinking car's tyres?

That's the view of Schrader Electronics, which specialises in developing electronic sensors for automotive applications.

 

Tyre Pressure Monitoring Systems (TPMS) introduced the concept of combining electronic sensors within a vehicle's tyre and have proven to make a significant contribution to safety and fuel efficiency, says Schrader, and all cars will be fitted with this technology by law from 2012.

 

But describing the arrival of the new technology as a 'quantum leap', the firm says the advances will change the scope of what can be offered by the only direct interface between car and the road surface.

 

The new development apparently centres on a sensor mounted within the inside of the tyre rather than on the valve or wheel rim as with current direct TPMS. It then transmits information wirelessly to receivers mounted in the vehicle's wheel housing and via the car's ECU to the driver.

 

This enables a raft of previously unobtainable data to be relayed to the vehicle's ABS, ESP and other electronic systems. Information about the tyre's tread depth, pressure and temperature, along with the shape of its footprint and the amount of load it is under, will be combined with precise readings of road conditions, such as the amount of grip available, to optimise control of the vehicle's dynamics.

 

A partnership with Pirelli will see the first phase of these tyres arriving in the European market during 2010, they say. Called the 'Cyber Tyre Lean', pressure, temperature, average load and the number of revolutions are measured and fed to the vehicle's electronic systems. The fully intelligent tyre, to be called the 'Cyber Tyre' is expected to arrive in 2013.