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Realising ‘IoT Tyres’ means installing various sensors inside of a tyre in order to collect and transmit information from the tyres to the vehicle, where this information can then be used in various applications. As these sensors require batteries or other sources of energy to operate, we believe that it makes perfect sense to power these devices using the energy produced naturally by the rotation of a tyre: Kazuhisa Fushihara, Manager, Planning & Administration Dept.,  Research & Development HQ, Sumitomo Rubber Industries

Cutting edge technology researches are on overdrive to enhance the performance of a tyre that can fit into the future definition of mobility, which revolves around sustainability. Tyre as a totally autonomous entity even while being the most vital element in a vehicle is among the ultimate goals of designers and technologists – tyres that can operate on its own, depending less on the mother vehicle, ensuring safety to the user and adding high level of value to strengthen the vehicle’s performance.

Surface friction and rolling resistance have always been the focus of tyre makers. A high amount of heat and energy are being generated during a tyre’s roll on the surface. Making use of this to sustain its function has been a major aim of technologists. Sumitomo Rubber Industries’ (SRI) “Energy Harvester” answers to this effort in a big way.       

In mid 2019, Sumitomo, through joint research undertaken with Professor Hiroshi Tani of Kansai University, developed this new technology to generate electric power from the rotation of a tyre. This is accomplished by installing a power generating device (Energy Harvester) inside of a tyre to convert static electricity occurring within a tyre into clean energy. This new device takes advantage of a type of static electricity called “frictional charging” to generate electric power efficiently each time a tyre's footprint deforms as a tyre rotates. Sumitomo, the     parent company of Falken Tyres, believes that this technology holds great potential for practical applications as a power source without needing batteries for various automotive digital tools, including in TPMS (Tyre Pressure Monitoring System) and other automotive devices.

The research was selected by the Japan Science and Technology Agency, national research and development agency, as a Type FS Seed Project under A-STEP (Adaptable and Seamless Technology Transfer Program through Target-Driven R&D). Sumitomo Rubber Industries will now advance this research with support from the Japan Science and Technology Agency.

 Sumitomo has been engaged in a wide range of joint research studies with various universities, including Kansai University and Gunma University Center of Research among others, on sustainability projects.

Regarding the project on “The Development of Intelligent Tyres Using Friction-Charged Sensors,” Kazuhisa Fushihara, Manager, Planning & Administration Dept.,

Research & Development HQ, Sumitomo Rubber Industries, told Tyre Trends: “We are afraid that we are unable to comment on the scope of this joint research project, or other areas of joint research with Kansai University, due to the existence of a non-disclosure agreement. However, we can say that, with backing from the Japan Science and Technology Agency (JST), we are actively engaged in research and development that envisions future tyres that fully incorporate IoT technology.

‘In-house’ energy source

On Energy Harvester Technology, Fushihara said that “Kansai University carried out the basic research and development for the underlying technology before engaging in joint research and development with our company toward realising applications for this technology in tyres.

Developing energy sources within tyres/vehicles goes a long way in ensuring sustainability in product manufacturing. The degree of energy saved is directly proportional to the reduction of energy used from external sources, including fossil-based sources.  

Fushihara said: Realising “IoT Tyres” means installing various sensors inside of a tyre in order to collect and transmit information from the tyres to the vehicle, where this information can then be used in various applications. As these sensors require batteries or other sources of energy to operate, we believe that it makes perfect sense to power these devices using the energy produced naturally by the rotation of a tyre.”

Maintaining right pressure in tyre plays a major role in its performance. “We believe that tyre pressure monitoring systems are an enormously beneficial technology, which is why the EU, China and many other countries around the world have followed the lead of the United States in making TPMS a regulatory requirement. Maintaining appropriate tyre pressure is extremely important in terms of both safety and the environment and, with an eye toward the future of automated vehicles, we believe that it is safe to say that TPMS will only become more and more important in the coming years,” Fushihara observed.

He added: “In the future, we hope to add even more value to these kinds of systems by augmenting their functionality so that they are able to detect not only tyre pressure, but also conditions at the point of contact between tyre and road as well as tyre load and other operational factors.”

Sensing Core

“The Sensing Core Technology that we are currently developing is yet another example of the Sumitomo Rubber Group’s efforts to enhance the value of TPMS so that we may provide greater safety and peace of mind to the increasingly automated mobility society of the future.”

The Sensing Core, a new tyre sensing technology, can detect road conditions, tyre load and other information by analysing the wheel speed signals that are generated by the rotation of the tyres.

SRI has already perfected its proprietary DWS (Deflation Warning System) technology, which analyses wheel speed signals from the rotation of tyres to detect and notify the driver of decreases in tyre air pressure. The DWS technology has been adopted by many automobile manufacturers and can now be found as a factory standard feature in countless vehicles throughout the world, the company website said (information and image courtesy: srigroup.co.jp).

Based on the technical knowhow that SRI cultivated in the development of DWS, the Sensing Core is the next evolution in DWS technology, an advancement that eliminates the need for an additional, dedicated sensors by instead utilising cutting-edge software to detect tyre pressure directly from existing wheel speed signals, thereby reducing the cost of installation and eliminating the need for maintenance.

As the only part of a vehicle that comes into direct contact with the road, tyres must support a vehicle’s entire weight. The Sensing Core technology uses a proprietary algorithm to detect various types of information based on what we know about each specific tyre so that this information can be shared with the driver and with the vehicle itself. This advanced algorithm incorporates and takes full advantage of SRI’s extensive knowledge of various tyre properties, which the company gained through over 100 years of experience in tyre development.

ENDS

The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company and TNO have successfully demonstrated that the integration of tyre intelligence technology into the automatic emergency braking (AEB) system of a vehicle has the potential to mitigate crashes even in challenging road conditions.

According to recent wet road testing, an improved AEB system with Goodyear SightLine technology may help reduce collisions at up to 80 kmph (50 mph) by applying brakes early. All things considered, the combination of AEB and SightLine insights on tyre and road condition data contributes to reliable performance in a variety of situations. This follows Goodyear and TNO's successful CES 2024 demonstration of tyre intelligence integration with antilock braking systems (ABS).

The automotive industry has placed a lot of emphasis on the AEB system, which applies the brakes automatically when a collision is about to occur in order to assist prevent or lessen the severity of crashes. The AEB system can work more efficiently in a variety of driving conditions, including low-friction surfaces like wet roads or ice, by integrating Goodyear SightLine, the company's suite of tyre intelligence solutions. Currently, existing systems are usually tuned for high-friction surfaces like dry asphalt. Tyre intelligence may give the AEB more detailed information about the real tyre and road conditions through the contact patch with the road, allowing for more intelligent and accurate decision-making.

Chris Helsel, Senior Vice President and Chief Technology Officer, Goodyear, said, "Safety is a cornerstone of Goodyear's commitment to innovation. By providing critical inputs about tyre and road conditions into AEB systems, we are helping OEMs and their customers take a leap forward in safety, well ahead of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's (NHTSA) 2029 mandate for AEB systems in passenger vehicles. Beyond this mandate, AEB systems will play a critical role in automated driving, helping to provide a comprehensive safety solution at all times."

Martijn Stamm, Marketing Director, Unit Mobility & Built Environment, TNO, said, "TNO is dedicated to enhancing the safety, efficiency and sustainability of vehicles. Our collaboration with Goodyear aims to predict the braking distance of a vehicle in more conditions, like dry and wet asphalt, and trigger the AEB timely to reduce accidents and ultimately safe lives. This knowledge is a key enabler for a safe introduction of higher levels of automation."

Italy-headquartered Rodolfo Comerio, a leading supplier of advanced systems for calendering lines, has come out with a new innovative solution, which it believes will further make plants more sustainable.

The company’s new calendering lines provides rigorous control, which enables thickness uniformity. Its production versatility processes a wide range of technical materials with different chemical and physical properties. This reduces production times and maximises productivity all the while cutting down on wastage.

Rodolfo Comerio stated that energy efficiency in buildings starts with roof insulation, which is also an effective way to cut down on thermal dispersion and enhance indoor comfort.

The company claims that materials manufactured with its calendering lines are higher efficient, have better durability even in extreme weather conditions and are much more sustainable.

Comerio Ercole, the Italian machinery manufacturer, is poised to enhance industrial performance with its advanced calendering solutions, which enable greater flexibility, precision and efficiency in production processes.

The company’s innovative Shuttle CE windup unit is designed for fully automated roller changes without halting operations, offering substantial cost savings and improved productivity.

The Shuttle CE unit features two identical stands on a shifting platform. While one stand operates under the cross-cutter unit, the other remains offline for roller replacement. This dual-stand configuration, combined with offline loading and unloading via dedicated cranes or integrated systems, eliminates manual intervention and enhances process optimisation.

Further demonstrating its technological leadership, Comerio Ercole recently commissioned a cutting-edge MINIDUPLEX rubber sheeting calendering plant. The plant’s HYDROPLUS configuration achieves ultra-thin rubberised sheets as fine as 0.075 mm, marking a significant breakthrough in precision calendering. The company continues to invest in R&D to refine its solutions and maintain competitive leadership.

Sumitomo Rubber Industries has decided to deploy Rockwell Automation's manufacturing execution system (MES) platform at its largest domestic factory in Shirakawa City, Fukushima Prefecture, Japan.

The factory will begin operations using the new platform in the second half of 2025.

This move comes as part of the company’s efforts to promote the use of digital technology in tyre production, aiming to enhance and streamline factory operations globally.

Kenji Saito, Executive Officer, General Manager of Manufacturing HQ, Tyre Business HQ Sumitomo Rubber Industries, said, “We believe that leveraging Rockwell Automation’s expertise and flexibility, and our strong partnership with PTC to the maximum will enable us to standardise manufacturing management and enhance operational efficiency globally, driving our growth. To implement DX management as set out in our management vision, we intend to deploy the MES system beginning with the domestic factory and other manufacturing sites thereafter. We will continue to collaborate with Rockwell Automation, a global leader in manufacturing, and embrace new challenges with a forward-looking approach, making full use of AI.”

James Glasson, Vice President, Global Industry Auto, Tire and Advanced Mobility, Rockwell Automation, said, “This initiative will enhance operating efficiency, minimise manufacturing risks, reduce implementation costs and significantly accelerate speed to market.”

In recent years, the manufacturing industry has faced numerous challenges, including rapid changes in the business environment and labour shortages due to Japan’s declining working-age population. To address these challenges, Sumitomo Rubber Industries has been working with PTC since 2019 to adopt PTC’s IoT platform and develop applications to integrate data across production lines and manufacturing sites.

This system has been rolled out at nine of the company’s 11 tyre manufacturing sites, including all four factories in Japan.

The deployment of the Rockwell Automation MES platform will accelerate data organisation and enable the accumulation and sharing of valuable data such as quality and production forecasts across the company. By linking the collected and managed data with the enterprise resource planning (ERP) system, corporate management can gain a comprehensive view of manufacturing operations worldwide.

The Shirakawa Factory will begin operating the MES platform in the second half of 2025. After verifying its effectiveness by the end of 2026, Sumitomo Rubber Industries aims to standardise and roll out the platform to its factories in Japan and overseas.