Accuracy within 1mm: Continental pilots real-time tread depth monitoring

Continental has demonstrated real-time tyre tread depth monitoring during a pilot project with Danish carsharing provider Share Now and telemetry specialist Traffilog. The project confirmed Continental’s ability to predict tyre tread depth in real-time to an accuracy within one millimetre.

The tyre maker achieved this feat by linking tyre senor information and telemetry data from Share Now’s fleet of electric vehicles with a proprietary, cloud-based algorithm. It anticipates that smart digital tyre solutions like this will be a key driver of need-based tyre servicing in future, a format it expects will replace scheduled, interval-based servicing.

”With this pilot, we are first in the market to offer significantly accurate tread depth monitoring via an algorithm. With an accuracy of below one millimetre our pilot has in fact set an industry benchmark in smart digital tyre solutions,” said Tansu Isik, head of business development and global marketing for the Continental Tires business. “We have worked very closely with our Continental Automotive Technologies colleagues as well as with our partner Traffilog to achieve this success.”

Proactive with real-time monitoring

The technology gives fleet providers the benefit of accurate information about tyre condition at any time and thus the opportunity to better control the important cost driver of tyre wear and damage. Moreover, intact and well-maintained tyres positively influence other major cost factors such as fuel efficiency and wear of vehicle components.

“Real-time, telematic-based tyre monitoring is a huge benefit for us. We can monitor and service our tyres at any time and take actions proactively,” said Steen Herløv Andersen, head of operations at Share Now Denmark. Advantages include more efficient fleet operations, minimised downtime due to repair, greater safety and reduced overall cost due to higher energy efficiency.

Another glimpse of the future

“With this pilot, we offer another glimpse on the future of Continental’s smart digital tyre solutions,” adds Isik. “Connecting tyres directly to the cloud allows Continental to create exciting new business models. Our digital ecosystem for tyres, in which we work together with our broad network of partners, is all about assisting our customers with tyres and service at the right time and in the right place.

“At Continental, we are leveraging on both our tyre expertise and our in-house know-how about sensor and vehicle architecture, which is provided by Continentals Automotive Technologies group sector,” Isik continues.

Tansu Isik, head of business development & global marketing for the Continental Tires business (Photo: Continental)

In-house technologies

The pilot project utilised numerous Continental technologies. An in-house team developed, trained and validated the algorithm by drawing upon the expertise of Continental’s Automotive Technologies group sector in vehicle architectures and telemetry. An in-house team also designed and produced the tyre sensors to meet specific project requirements.

“Because of our set-up, we have all the specialists we need in-house. This means short distances to get things up and running. That is a true competitive advantage. This pilot is one sample for Continental’s intensive efforts to develop customer-centric tyre solutions, based on their specific needs to increase efficiency, reduce costs and increase safety,” concludes Isik.

The real-time tread depth measurement pilot is part of a larger project in which Continental is partnering with Traffilog to deliver real-time remote tyre pressure and temperature monitoring to Share Now’s entire fleet in Denmark, some 600 vehicles in total. To achieve this, Continental integrated its real-time tyre monitoring solution into an existing telematic setup. Traffilog modified its telematics unit in order to enable the capture and transfer of data, with relevant data then fed to Continental’s algorithm.