Sensata develops Bluetooth low energy TPMS systems

Swindon, UK – Sensata Technologies has developed a new Bluetooth-based tire pressure monitoring system (TPMS) for vehicle OEMS, to address the market shift towards smarter, connected tires.

To be launched on electric vehicles of a “leading American vehicle OEM” in the first half of 2023, the Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) is claimed to help improve vehicle safety and performance, through enhancing advanced driver assist systems (ADAS).

In the new systems, Sensata said 29 June, the company has replaced the ultra-high frequency (UHF) radio with BLE radio to enable two-way communication.

The solutions are available in both clamp-in and snap-in configurations, and are optimised for long battery life, Sensata added.

BLE two-way communication also enables cyber security authentication, which according to Sensata is not possible with traditional one-way UHF, and “adds a layer of protection from being hacked.”

“Interest in BLE TPMS is on the rise as vehicles become more connected, electrified, and autonomous,” said Sensata.

While common in consumer applications like speakers and headphones, BLE is relatively new in the TPMS space for vehicle OEMs and is enabled by newer vehicle system architectures that can support BLE functionality.

“BLE TPMS is the natural evolution of the TPMS solutions Sensata provides today,” says Eric Sorret, VP automotive at Sensata Technologies.

“This business award with a leading vehicle OEM is an exciting first step towards showing the added value BLE TPMS can bring to both OEMs and consumers,” he said.