Globally-acclaimed tyre and rubber manufacturer Bridgestone and tech company Microsoft have teamed up to develop a unique Tyre Damage Monitoring System using the Microsoft Connected Vehicle Platform (MCVP) – the new system uses MCVP’s cloud framework together with pre-installed sensor data and various algorithms to detect real-time events affecting the tyre surface and carcass. Currently, Bridgestone’s new Tyre Damage Monitoring System is available to all vehicle fleets and OEM’s that use MCVP.
The partnership with Microsoft will enable Bridgestone to further develop its solutions to meet the requirements of fleets and key OEM partners around the world. Future autonomous vehicle fleets could also pass information about local hazards to others in the vicinity, as well as cloud data stores. Additionally, the system could alert the agencies responsible for road damage issues to the presence and location of potholes and other hazards it detects.
“Microsoft partners with mobility companies to support their transformation into smart mobility services providers. Using MCVP, Bridgestone has created Tyre Damage Monitoring System that offers a remarkable contribution to road safety and proves how the collaboration between industry leaders can unlock new business opportunities ahead,” said Tara Prakriya, General Manager, Azure Mobility and MCVP at Microsoft.
MCVP will provide Bridgestone with a digital infrastructure that will accelerate its delivery of connected mobility solutions, providing access to a multitude of cloud-connected capabilities and global availability. The partnership with Bridgestone will in turn help Microsoft grow its ecosystem of supporting partners, and enables MCVP’s customers to integrate these partner’s solutions into their own offerings.
“Digital is such a huge part of what we do today at Bridgestone; it’s imperative that we work with industry-leading partners who can support our needs today and in the future. By teaming up with Microsoft, we have the opportunity to bring our Tyre Damage Monitoring System to millions of drivers, offering them better safety and peace of mind,” said Laurent Dartoux, CEO and President of Bridgestone EMIA.
According to Bridgestone, most tyre issues can already be reliably mitigated against since the debut of tyre pressure monitoring systems (TPMS), mandatory in all cars built since 2012. Regular servicing and replacement of tyres in time will also guard against wear and fatigue. However, tyre damage – which often cannot be detected without close, manual inspection – can occur at any time and lead to accidents. They can also adversely affect other vehicle components and create a further source of potential danger to motorists. Bridgestone’s new Tyre Damage Monitoring System is thus hoped to increase road safety and reduce accidents caused by technical failure.