To improve the sustainability and safety of goods transportation using autonomous vehicles, Goodyear and Gatik have demonstrated a proof of concept which utilizes the tire maker’s SightLine technology to estimate tire-road friction potential. The same sensors within the tires also deliver real-time information to Gatik’s automated driving system (ADS).
By using the smart solution and gathering important data, the pair aim to enhance the safety and performance of Gatik’s goods vehicles, adding value for customers using the company’s service within the B2B short-haul sector.
Road-friction detection capabilities have recently been deployed by the companies in Canada, and by continuously measuring information delivered by the tire sensor and additional vehicle data, vehicle performance can be optimized by using Goodyear’s own cloud-based algorithms.
To date, Goodyear SightLine has successfully delivered friction estimates which detected low grip conditions, such as snow-covered or icy roadways. This information was then passed onto Gatik’s autonomous fleet to improve the safety and performance of vehicles operating in Canada’s harsh winter conditions. The road-friction data can also help Gatik’s autonomous vehicles plan routes where appropriate driving speeds, acceleration limits and vehicle following distances are set according to road conditions.
Goodyear SightLine technology is capable of measuring the tire’s wear state, load, inflation pressure and temperature. This data is then combined with real-time road-weather data and rubber friction models to estimate the tire-road friction potential.
“The tire is the only part of the vehicle that touches the ground, and this new level of data sophistication can communicate vital information to the vehicle, enhancing safety and performance,” said Chris Helsel, senior vice president, global operations and chief technology officer, Goodyear. “This is another step to evolve the tire to not only deliver its core, traditional job but also be a nexus of new data and information.”
“At Gatik, we’re dedicated to providing our customers with a solution that continues to raise industry standards in safety, efficiency and performance,” commented Arjun Narang, chief technology officer and co-founder, Gatik. “Using Goodyear’s groundbreaking SightLine technology helps us to operationalize these principles and ensures that we’re delivering greater value and enhancing safety on the middle mile today.”
