Tire manufacturer Nexen Tire has announced it has developed an artificial intelligence (AI) and big data-driven methodology to help reduce tire noise.
Since 2018, the company has been conducting a joint research project with its long-standing partner Hyundai-Kia into reducing tire noise levels. It hopes the research will also help cut research and development lead times and costs.
Researchers from Nexen’s univerCITY together with Hyundai-Kia and Inha University say they were able to make use of vast amounts of data as well as deep learning algorithms based on tire patterns and noise design factors, to create an AI system that both optimizes the end product and improves on the pass-by noise (PBN) of automobiles and tires. Based on these results, the company claims it was able to create new designs for tires by using its own image processing technology.
To achieve this, the company set up an anechoic chamber containing dozens of microphone sensors to measure noise, analyze pass-by noise and detect causes of noise from the vehicle powertrain.
In addition, it created Korea’s first four-drum research equipment facility and is currently conducting tests with actual vehicles. The results showed that internal and external noise generated by cars can be reduced to 1dB and 3dB, respectively, under certain driving situations.
Both Nexen and Hyundai-Kia state they are hoping to find ways to utilize the technology on upcoming vehicle models.
