Pirelli introduces intelligent 'cyber tire' project

Milan, Italy – Pirelli is currently studying a new “futuristic” intelligent tire with sensors embedded in their structures which analyse road conditions and warn of possible hazards in real time.

In a press release on 25 Nov, the Italian tire maker announced that its “cyber tire” was at an R&D stage at the mechanical engineering department of Milan University.

“The result will be unprecedented levels of safety and performance, adding to the active and passive safety systems that are already present on modern vehicle,” claimed the announcement.

The tire employs an autonomous electronic sensor that measures around 1cm squared, according to the press release.

This unit "reads the road and its interaction with the tire, ‘talking’ in real time via a wireless connection to the car’s on-board computer and other electronic systems. These then display information to the driver via a graphic interface,” it explained.

The sensor interprets the grip available, analysing road conditions that range from dry to wet to icy, together with the condition of the road surface.

The device also senses the vertical load on the tire as well as the lateral and longitudinal forces at work on it: calculating how much speed can be carried before aquaplaning occurs, as well as how much grip is available before the car starts to skid.

Other data fields include information about the type of asphalt on the road, plus the footprint and angle of the tire, as well as tire temperature, pressure, wear and number of revolutions.

Safety margins can, therefore, be calculated instantly and conveyed to the vehicle’s control systems, which can then react immediately to the conditions and put in place optimal safeguards against any impending hazards.”

The sensor also acts as each tire’s ‘passport’, carrying unique information about its identity.

The 'cyber tire', said Pirelli, is currently being studied for inclusion as original equipment by some major car manufacturers.