TPMS and RFID
The US government’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has officially proposed that all new vehicles carry a TPMS. The announcement comes after the NHTSA sent the draft rule to the Office of Management and Budget on 1 July.
SmarTire Systems Inc has announced it will make its tyre pressure monitoring system for high pressure tyres available in Europe. According to the company, the system is designed to work in high pressure environments of between 150 and 200 psi.
SmarTire chose the Automechanika show in Frankfurt as the venue for its high pressure product’s European debut. Commenting on the news John Taylor-Wilson, VP sales and marketing, said: “The impact of TPMS on large vehicles translates into solid and demonstrable cost savings and benefits to the owners and operators of these vehicles. Combined with the safety aspect of our products, these benefits have already generated considerable market interest in TPMS. SmarTire for high-pressure tyres such as buses, recreational and commercial vehicle applications will be aggressively introduced in the respective European markets.
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Siemens VDO Automotives has developed a tyre pressure monitoring system (TPMS) for commercial vehicles that it will present at the next Automechanika show.
When a concept, like Tyre Pressure Monitoring Systems (TPMS), is still relatively new, it means that developments are more clearly noticeable. Even in a few months it is possible to trace the concept’s development.
There are two versions of this technology; direct and indirect measuring systems. As you would expect, both have advantages and disadvantages. Direct systems are substantially more expensive but more precise than indirect systems. Indirect systems are cheaper, but less accurate. These systems were originally based on the ABS infrastructure, but are now also based on ESP. Indirect systems cross-link with the vehicle’s electronics so they cannot be installed after manufacture. Conversely, direct systems are components of the wheel and therefore can be re-tooled relatively straightforwardly in the aftermarket.
It is not yet clear which system will be accepted as the standard, something that is largely to do with American legislation. The American road safety authority, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), will have to decide which criteria will govern the regulation of these devices before they can become components in newly certified vehicles in the USA.
In the past decisions had to be taken back because interest groups opposed them. Sometimes representatives of the other competing technology protested, sometimes consumer federations did, and on other occasions the automakers makers used their influence. Again and again new arguments arose, most of which contained at least a few good ideas. The consumer federations, for example, argued that drivers have a right to the best technical solution, which supports direct measurement. The manufacturers, on the other hand, referred to the fact that, in the US, ABS is still far from penetrating the market as well as the technology has in Europe (100 per cent of new vehicles produced in Europe are now fitted with ABS). If one side decides to support indirect measuring systems, ABS has to be introduced at the same time, which gives significantly more leverage to the safety argument. In short the decision remains up in the air.
At Automechanika, SKF will be presenting a so-called ‘air wheel bearing’ through which air-pressure can be filled into the tyre. The bearings are used within the Tire Intelligent Pressure Management (TIPM) system, which was developed under the leadership of Michelin. TRW Automotive and WABCO are involved in this tyre pressure control improvement project.
Runflats are becoming more and more common and not only for high sophisticated models such as the Ferrari 612 Scaglietta, which uses Bridgestone RE 050 RFT – but also for middle class models. However because it is necessary to use a tyre pressure monitoring system (TPMS) when using runflats, these systems are becoming more popular from a lot of companies outside the tyre industry. In the next issue Tyres & Accessories will give an overview of why tyre dealers have to be involved in such a growing market segment.
SmarTire Systems Inc has announced that the British Columbia Safety Council (BCSC) will resell its advanced tyre pressure monitoring systems (TPMS
The NHTSA has sent a new Tyre Pressure Monitoring rule to the US Office of Management and Budget, 11 months after the agency’s original rule was rejected by the US Appeal Court.
SmarTire Systems Inc., in conjunction with is master distributor in China, Beijing Boom Technology Co. Ltd., closed a deal to supply the Taiwanese tour bus industry.
SmarTire Systems Inc. (OTCBB: SMTR) announced that it has completed the development of a new receiver allowing for the manufacturing of its tire pressure monitoring systems (TPMS) for commercial vehicles to commence in July 2004.
Japan-based ALPS Electric has completed development of a batteryless tyre pressure monitoring system and plans to commence mass production this year. The system has been developed in collaboration with the world’s leading tyre and valve manufacturers and will be on display at the ALPS Show, to be held at the New Takanawa Prince Hotel in Tokyo for three days, beginning 26th May.
SmarTire Systems tyre pressure monitoring systems (TPMS) has been installed on the monorail system in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. The SmarTire system was supplied by Rodgard, a division of Hutchinson Industries, and utilises their run-flat systems that the monorail cars ride on. This development of SmarTire’s TPMS technology expands the Company’s global market and sales potential. “It’s incredibly important for the monorail operator to know if any tyre on the train has a problem,” says Joe Duffy, Technical Sales Manager for Rodgard. “Our runflat systems enable the train to continue running, but it is the SmarTire TPMS that tells the operator that a tyre problem has occurred, allowing them to take preventative action.”
SmarTire Systems tyre pressure monitoring systems (TPMS) has been installed on the monorail system in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. The SmarTire system was supplied by Rodgard, a division of Hutchinson Industries, and utilises their run-flat systems that the monorail cars ride on. This development of SmarTire’s TPMS technology expands the Company’s global market and sales potential. „It’s incredibly important for the monorail operator to know if any tyre on the train has a problem,“ says Joe Duffy, Technical Sales Manager for Rodgard. „Our runflat systems enable the train to continue running, but it is the SmarTire TPMS that tells the operator that a tyre problem has occurred, allowing them to take preventative action.“
SmarTire Systems Inc. has announced it has signed an agreement with Motohaus Powersports Ltd. to distribute SmarTire’s second generation tyre monitoring product for motorcycles in the UK. Motohaus Powersports is a well-established distributor of motorcycle accessories and has a strong base of dealers throughout the UK. “With safety high on the agenda for UK riders and with tyre pressures so critical to the handling of modern high-performance motorcycles, we are excited to be offering SmarTire’s tyre monitoring system to the UK market,” says Owain Evans, Managing Director at Motohaus.
EnTire Solutions, LLC, the 50/50 joint venture of Michelin and TRW Automotive, has announced contracts with Honda and Fiat for its direct tyre pressure monitoring systems (TPMS). EnTire Solutions, LLC is now supplying tyre pressure monitoring systems (TPMS) for the 2004 Acura MDX luxury sport utility vehicle, and has also been selected by Fiat to provide advanced TPMS for a range of its upcoming European models. Chief Executive Officer of EnTire Solutions, LLC, Rich Wolfe, said, “It’s a boost for us to be announcing these contract wins so close to the launch of EnTire Solutions, LLC, and it reflects the extremely positive response we’ve had so far. With Michelin’s expertise in tyre systems and TRW’s electronics and integration capabilities, EnTire Solutions is built on a solid technical and operating base.”
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