A tyre with an embedded microchip linked to the car’s on-board computer has been unveiled by Goodyear Dunlop.
The new concept tyre, due to be revealed at the Geneva Motor Show tomorrow, is designed to enhance the performance of the car on cornering, braking and stability, thanks to a battery-less microchip attached to the inside of the tyre.
The chip sends information on tyre pressure, temperature and the tyre identification details to the vehicle’s central computer system, allowing it to automatically refine the vehicle’s longitudinal and lateral control algorithms to improve the driving performance.
“Today’s advanced vehicle control systems can greatly benefit from tyre specific information”, said Marc Engel, senior engineer at Goodyear Dunlop. “We have always understood that when we were able to gather this information, we could deliver new levels of driving performance to the car.
“Today we are showcasing a first concrete step in that direction as we begin to translate the wealth of information received by the tyre back to improving and enhancing the overall driving experience. It is a major step forward.”
According to Goodyear Dunlop the tyre can deliver a reduced stopping distance when a vehicle’s ABS (Automatic Braking System) kicks in, improved cornering response, improved yaw stability and improved stability delivered by a more informed Electronic Stability Control (ESC) system.
“Tyre properties change significantly and tyre type, inflation and temperature play a major role”, Engel said. “If a vehicle knows those dynamic properties, its control systems can take them into account and deliver an improved overall performance.”
The chip is embedded in the tyre, not the rim, meaning that tyre specific information can be embedded on the chip and the chip is not subject to damage during the tyre mounting process, as compared to systems that are mounted on the valve stem.
The company has fitted the new system to its SportMaxx RT tyres and is currently testing the system before bringing it to market, though a specific launch date is not yet planned.
The system was developed with Huf, a leading manufacturer of mechanical and electrical locking systems, tyre pressure monitoring systems and telematic systems for the automotive industry.
Source: E&T Magazine
Published: 05 Mar 2014