TPMS and RFID
Schrader Performance Sensors, the automotive aftermarket brand of Sensata Technologies, will launch two new motorcycle TPMS OE replacement sensors into the aftermarket at AutoZum in Salzburg, Austria (16-19 January 2019). Schrader will participate in the show with an updated product portfolio on its 50sqm booth in Hall 10 (stand 0706).
With all new cars now coming equipped with TPMS, uneven tyre wear as a result of under (or over) inflated tyres should theoretically become a thing of the past. That theory has yet to materialise in practice; the latest Department for Transport figures reveal that around 1,000 casualties are caused every year on the UK’s roads from tyre-related incidents. And perhaps the brave new world of tyre safety promised by required TPMS fitments may have been inspired by too much blue sky thinking anyway. With many drivers now relying on TPMS systems to advise them when to top up their tyres with air, it is possible that some are checking their tread depth even less frequently than before.
This section is entitled “TPMS and sensor technology” for a reason. No longer are in-tyre sensors about measuring temperature alone. Now TPMS basically means pressure and temperature, often with the addition of algorithmically generated road feedback, load information and even wear calculations. These “big data” contributions are routinely relayed to the cloud for analysis. At the same time external tread readers are measuring similarly important data and sending that to the cloud. Put all this together and we have what Pirelli calls the “sensorisation” of the tyre business. Whatever we call it, this part of the business is now about far more than just sensing tyre pressures. And, as far as uptake is concerned, legislation and technical innovation are the key driving forces.
Back in September 2018 Pirelli announced that the system it had developed for the monitoring and management of tyres had been renewed. As a result, the company launched two technological solutions at the IAA Commercial Vehicles in Hannover – Cyber Fleet Smart and Cyber Fleet Gate – both of which represent the company’s latest engagement with the digital revolution.
The European Union is advancing plans to broader the coverage of type approval provisions that mandate the installation of tyre pressure monitoring systems (TPMS) in new vehicles. For some time the type approval rules have required that TPMS is fitted in new passenger cars, but some arguably borderline vehicles such as SUVs and pickup trucks have been exempt from the rules.
UK technology company Wheely-Safe has launched ‘Michelin Wheel Security and Tyre Pressure Management System Heavy Fleet’, a solution aimed at truck, bus, coach, trailer and heavy plant operators and designed to tackle the issues of wheel loss and brake and hub overheating. Wheely-Safe says this patented solution is the world’s first in-motion driver alert system that detects the onset of wheel loss before detachment; it also warns the driver of potential brake or hub issues that could lead to a fire if unchecked, as well as tyre over- or under-inflation.
Transense Technologies PLC’s trading division Translogik has won a contract to supply 24 iTrack II mining tyre monitoring systems including the full suite of data analytics for large haul trucks at Southern Copper’s Cuajone mine in Peru. These systems are to be supplied on a subscription model basis.
At the end of October, electric vehicle pioneer Tesla announced that it had patented its own tyre inflation technology.
Breedon Cement has become the first UK Off-The-Road (OTR) or earthmover fleet to install Goodyear Proactive Solutions. According to the company, the TPMS Heavy Duty system allows data to feedback from sensors fitted inside the tyres, assisting customers to maintain and prolong the life of their tyres, through real-time monitoring.
Despite the fact that here in the UK and Ireland there is not a culture of changing from summer to winter tyres at the end of the season, tyre related problems do increase during the colder, wetter months. In order to help workshops to be ready to tackle these potential issues, TecAlliance has developed a tyre change checklist that provides optimal support and offers customers maximum transparency. Another important issue is the installation and configuration of tyre pressure monitoring systems (TPMS), for which it now offers even more comprehensive information.
Bri-Stor Systems, the UK’s largest manufacturer of light commercial vehicle conversions and van storage, will have fitted more than 1,000 Michelin Tyre Pressure Management System Light Fleet kits throughout a number of major fleets by the start of 2019.
Continental has presented the latest development of its digital tyre monitoring platform. ContiConnect Live, available from the second quarter of 2019, informs operators of truck and bus fleets immediately if there is a problem with the temperature or pressure of a tyre, even when the vehicle is on the road. The data is transferred to the servers and the web portal by the ContiConnect Driver app, which is also new. Before the end of this year, the app will be able to show tyre information on Daimler Fleetboard and TomTom Telematics devices as well as other Android devices, such as smartphones and tablets, initially in the driver’s cab. With ContiConnect Live, Continental presented a further development of the portfolio that has already been successfully launched in 15 markets as ContiConnect Yard, which works using a yard reader station in the fleet yard.
Pirelli has renewed its Cyber Fleet solution, launching the latest version at the 67th edition of the Hannover IAA Commercial Vehicle show. The new edition of the system focuses on two technologies – Cyber Fleet Smart and Cyber Fleet Gate. According to the company, these solutions have been designed to optimize management costs, increase safety and efficiency when it comes to tyres, reduce both vehicle downtime and CO2 emissions.
Bridgestone has launched FleetPulse a three-in-one solution composed of a mobile app, a centralised website and tyre pressure monitoring system (TPMS) hardware. FleetPulse reportedly improves transparency related to vehicle health in order to significantly reduce the likelihood of costly and potentially dangerous breakdowns, thus increasing time on the roads while ensuring high safety standards. FleetPulse, which automates roadworthiness checks, will also help fleets to simplify their operations and reduce maintenance costs – two other key challenges for fleets.
Schrader Performance Sensors has announced the launch of two new heavy-duty OE replacement sensors. The new valve-mounted sensors are already available for sale with the following part numbers: #3700 for Daimler trucks and #3702 for DAF trucks.
If you would like the latest news from the Chinese tyre industry in Chinese, visit our partner site TyrepressChina.com. Or click below to continue on Tyrepress.