By Sara Castellanos March 19, 2020 5:41 pm ET The tire, once the most basic of automobile parts, is getting a tech upgrade.
“We [see] the tire playing a more important role than ever,” said Rich Kramer, chief executive of Goodyear. “With the onset of autonomous vehicles, the role of the tire in the performance and safety of the vehicle would increase if we can make that tire intelligent.” The goal is for a self-driving vehicle to adjust and respond to the measurements instantaneously, said Chris Helsel, Goodyear’s chief technology officer.
Other tire companies are working on similar technology. Japan-based Bridgestone Corp. late last year announced the development of a technology that uses sensors and proprietary algorithms to estimate tire-wear conditions. The sensors can gather information even while the car is driving slowly, which is important because self-driving vehicles are expected to operate at low speeds for safety. Most sensors require a certain speed to gather data, according to the company.
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