The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co. showcased concept tires during the Geneva International Motor Show.
Its new concept tires – the spherical-shaped Eagle 360 Urban and the IntelliGrip Urban smart tire – apply emerging technologies like artificial intelligence and vehicle-to-everything (V2X) connectivity to help the autonomous vehicles of the future navigate the millions of possible unknowns we face in every day driving scenarios, the tiremaker said.
“The future of the automotive industry is being shaped by rapid advances in technology and changing consumer attitudes and behaviors,” said Joe Zekoski, Goodyear’s senior vice president and chief technical officer. “The concepts and technology we are showcasing in Geneva are part of the revolution that we see unfolding at the intersection of autonomy, mobility and connectivity where tires and services will play a critical role in meeting our customers’ performance and information needs.”
Goodyear Eagle 360 Urban
The Eagle 360 Urban is an evolution of Goodyear’s 2016 spherical-shaped design concept, further integrating the tire into the vehicle’s nervous system by giving the concept an artificial intelligence ‘brain’ that allows it to sense, decide, transform and interact.
The tire features:
- V2X communications connectivity to gather and share real-time information about driving conditions from the tires, other vehicles, infrastructure, and traffic systems for a complete picture;
- Artificial intelligence to process the data through deep learning algorithms and improve braking, handling and efficiency; and
- A bionic skin made of a super-elastic polymer with high-sensory capacity and the flexibility to adapt its tread pattern to driving conditions with the help of actuators beneath the surface.
Goodyear IntelliGrip Urban
The IntelliGrip Urban is a smart tire concept designed for autonomous, on-demand transportation, with a focus on maximizing uptime and reducing operating costs for ride-sharing service providers.
Key features include:
- Sensor-in-tire technology to gather and share information about road and weather conditions with the vehicle control system to optimize speed, braking, handling and stability;
- Proactive maintenance through telematics and tire health monitoring to maximize uptime by allowing fleet operators to precisely identify and resolve tire-related issues safely before they happen; and,
- A fuel efficient tall and narrow design that reduces rolling resistance and extends range for electric vehicles, as well as fewer tread grooves to reduce noise levels and offer a more comfortable ride and longer tread life.
Although these tires are future concepts, they represent Goodyear’s innovation strategy and customer focus in the new mobility ecosystem, said Zekoski.
