SmarTire Release Updated Technologies

British Columbia based company, SmarTire Systems Incorporated has announced, it will produce two new updates to its SmarTire monitoring system. The developments come in the shape of the a new version of SmarTire for motorcycles, and a battery-less modification to the car concept.

The company has already begun shipping the motorbike product. “Battery-operated sensor-transmitters are attached to the inside of both tyres using steel straps,” said SmarTire spokesman Randy Halischuk.” These wirelessly transmit tyre pressure and temperature inside the tyre to the receiver display mounted in view of the rider.

The new version exchanges the warning alarm for a bright flashing light to alert the rider to drops in tyre pressure or temperature rises. It also uses separate receiver and display units. At the same time “the LCD also will display the tyre and the
condition that caused the alert,” said Mr Halischuk.

The company, which has been developing wireless tyre pressure monitoring systems for over 15 years explained that the product came about because engineers were able to miniaturise more of the components and therefore combine the receiver and the display into one small unit.

The updated system sells for $199.95 (£109.75).

SmarTire Systems has also announced that it has successfully completed the initial test phase of a battery-less monitoring system, a development that the company believes could set a new standard.

The new SmarTire technology involves a passive sensor inside each tyre. These are energised by an antenna located within each wheel arch. According to the company the battery-less system offers a number of improvements over the current technology.

The fact that there is no battery in the sensor significantly reduces the product’s weight, size and cost. Also, the elimination of the battery means that there are no disposal issues, making the product a more environmentally friendly solution.

This new approach also allows tyres to be changed without re-programming the system. “This is cutting edge technology that we believe has the ability to advance the tyre monitoring industry to the next level. For some time now, the industry has been demanding a paradigm shift to a battery-less technology. Although it will take at least a year to commercialise this new technology, we believe that this technical milestone reinforces SmarTire as the technology leader in tire pressure monitoring systems” said SmartTire president and CEO, Robert Rudman.