Tyre Telematics

By Colin Windell

Telematics is still one of the auto industry’s hottest buzzwords and the quest for bigger, better, faster and more data about vehicle operations continues unabated – the tyre industry now moving more into focus as a contributor.

As safety and crash mitigation technology moves forward and becomes increasingly efficient, information from the wheels and tyres themselves is becoming a more vital ingredient of the whole mix, especially on multi-axle vehicles.

In the early days, the ‘telematics’ consisted of a brake sensor that comprised a metal bar that gradually became exposed as the brake pads wore down, finally emitting a screech when it was time to replace them and this was followed by anti-lock sensors and finally tyre pressure sensors.

Ian Langlands, GM: Sales and Marketing at Continental Tyre SA, says information being provided by tyre telematics is both crucial and increasingly sophisticated.

“ContiPressureCheck is Continental’s tyre pressure monitoring system specifically designed for commercial vehicles. The system continuously monitors the pressure and temperatureof each tyre on the vehicle in order to provide real-time and on-demand tyre status information and to warn the driver of subsequent tyre-related problems before they potentially become a critical concern.

“ContiPressureCheck integrates its sensors, communication system and data processor into a single module that is housed inside a rubber container and mounted to the inner surface of the tyre.

“Continental also manufactures iTyres which have the aforementioned sensors already in place during the manufacturing process, in many popular commercial vehicle tyre sizes. The sensors continuously monitor both air pressure and the tyre’s temperature and transfer data wirelessly to a receiver.

“This processes the data, saves warnings and sends them directly to a display in the driver’s cab. The driver can then immediately take corrective action and avoid a breakdown before it happens. We are currently working with local telematics enablers in order to provide customers with integration of data recorded by ContiPressureCheck with their respective tracking service providers and look forward to this successful result shortly.

“ContiPressureCheck is advantageous for commercial vehicle drivers in that it accounts for the tyre’s temperature at its most optimal point inside the tyre, eliminating interference from outside elements.

“The benefits of ContiPressureCheck extend beyond the longevity of the system and the accuracy of its data. Considering all the factors that influence a commercial fleet’s costs – with fuel consumption being the primary cost – it necessitates them managing their spending.

“ContiPressureCheck assists the fleets to actively manage this cost by warning the vehicle operator of changes in tyre pressures and temperatures, as incorrect inflated tyres can lead to increased fuel consumption, or even tyre failures and resultant breakdowns.”

The step up in the telematics chain is the wheel end sensor where data and diagnostic trouble codes from wheel speed sensors are an integral part of active safety technologies such as full-stability and collision mitigation..

This technology sets the stage to integrate and dramatically expand the information sensors will be sending to fleets and current trials of systems include monitoring operational conditions such as hub or tyre temperature, as well as tyre pressure.

They are also being used to monitor individual wheel loads that can tell if a vehicle is loaded or unloaded, how a vehicle is loaded — what the actual weight distribution of the cargo is –  and to detect any sudden shifts in the distribution of cargo and weight on the vehicle, as well as monitor the type of surface the truck is driving across at any given time.

The potential for fleets is dramatic. Consider the scenario where a truck starts a day fully loaded, is then partially unloaded and reloaded during the course of a work day.

Using these wheel sensors, the changing weight distribution data can be fed into the truck’s architecture as the day progresses to do things such as adjust the suspension or brake performance to each wheel to make sure the vehicle stops efficiently every time.

In the USA, ConMet revealed its SmartHub intelligent wheel end at the North American Commercial Vehicle Show in Atlanta. This offers real-time data on important hub functions to help improve safety and maintenance.

The SmartHub contains embedded sensors that will measure and transmit data on wheel end health indicators, including hub temperature, lubricant level, hub vibration, speed, kilometres traveled, spindle nut torque readings, hub load, and bolt tension.

A spokesperson for the company said SmartHub is being developed with the purpose of providing better prognostic capabilities around the health of the wheel end, and as market trends such as autonomous vehicles and commercial vehicle platooning continue to grow, this self-monitoring, predictive technology will be critical to the safety of the wheel end.

Looking even farther into the future, maybe a time when wheel end sensors will simply broadcast vehicle weight directly to weigh stations.

At the 2018 Geneva International Motor Show, Goodyear showcased the latest advances on its intelligent tyre prototype, a complete tyre information system that includes a tyre, sensors and cloud-based algorithms that all work together to communicate in real-time with fleet operators via a mobile app.

 "As shared mobility continues to grow in popularity, we are seeing applications where kilometers driven per vehicle will increase substantially in the years ahead," says Chris Delaney, President of Goodyear Europe, Middle East and Africa. "For shared fleet operators, proactively managing tyre service issues is critical to both the customer experience and the business model."

The Goodyear intelligent tyre prototype allows for continuous connectivity and real-time data sharing, enabling optimal tyre usage for safer and more cost-efficient mobility and maximized uptime.

The sensors in Goodyear's intelligent tyre, together with the vehicle and third-party information, provide real-time data to Goodyear's proprietary algorithms. Thanks to these algorithms, information on tyre ID and status –  including wear, temperature and pressure – is continuously updated and shared with fleet operators.

"Tyre performance and wear information provide a real-time signal for when a tyre needs service to extend its life, fuel economy and performance attributes," Delaney continued. "This kind of proactive maintenance allows fleet operators to precisely identify and resolve tyre-related and potential service issues before they happen."

Shared mobility is continuing to grow based on desires for reduced cost and increased convenience for consumers. In 2015, shared kilometers accounted for 4% of global kilometers traveled. This number is projected to exceed 25% by 2030.

"As the face of mobility continues to evolve, so will the needs of consumers and fleet operators," says Delaney. "Goodyear is anticipating the products, services and experiences that will deliver the mobility that consumers and fleet operators need."