Yokohama has begun testing a novel technology that uses AI to gauge air pressure from the sound made by tapping truck and bus tires. This technology aims to help logistics companies to reduce costs and improve fuel efficiency.
Daily air pressure checks with pressure gauges can lead to valve failure and air leakage. In addition, real-time monitoring can be time-consuming and costly. Therefore, tapping the tire with a hammer remains a commonly used technique for air pressure monitoring. However, this method cannot be used to determine whether a tire has appropriate air pressure.
To solve this problem, Yokohama is working with Metrika to develop an AI algorithm that can distinguish between the sounds created by tapping the tire and a variety of environmental sounds, determine when and how long the sound occurred (the sound interval), and estimate the tire’s air pressure based on the sound. The companies have developed a prototype that is undergoing practical testing at a transportation-related company.
Using this technology, drivers will be able to visually analyze the air pressure and any need for more pressure by using a smartphone app to record the sound made when tapping the tire. This will make it possible for anyone to perform a highly precise air-pressure check without the need for a special device or skill.
Yokohama Rubber will use the testing to improve the accuracy of the AI algorithm and the usability of the application. The company plans to incorporate this new technology into its proprietary next-generation tire management system (TMS), which uses the Internet of Things (IoT) to propose appropriate products and operational plans for transportation companies.
