Sensata Reveals New Tire-Mounted Sensor

Sensata debuted its new Tire Mounted Sensor (TMS), which includes TPMS functionality as well as an accelerometer to detect the force with which the tire is striking the ground. Mounted directly to the tire’s inner liner, the TMS identifies the brand and model of the tire and provides data continuity for the specific tire throughout its life cycle.

Sensata said there are several benefits that TMSs are able to provide to drivers and tire and vehicle OEMs, including:

Improved safety, tire life, fuel efficiency and driving range calculations: When one pairs the data from the sensors with a load calculation algorithm, the vertical load can be estimated on each tire while the vehicle is in motion. The system notifies the driver if the vehicle experiences an overload or imbalance. A vehicle overloaded by just 10% reduces tire life by 16% and fuel efficiency by 10%. Awareness of vehicle load increases safety, extends tire life and improves driving range estimations. In addition, the real-time feedback Tire Mounted Sensors provided to a battery management system (BMS) allows for more accurate EV range calculations.
Better vehicle handling: Tire information programmed into the sensor can enable the vehicle to adjust performance and handling to match the installed tire.
More accurate ADAS performance: Detecting road surface conditions, such as changes from pavement to gravel, can inform the Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) to adapt and make more timely and accurate braking distance adjustments.
Simplified tire warranty tracking: Tire and vehicle OEMs can more easily conduct tire warranty tracking and notifications as a vehicle with TMSs can automatically recognize the tire information from the sensors.

Sensata said its first TMS will launch in 2023. The company is discussing more opportunities with additional vehicles and tire OEMs.

Toyo Tire announced the development of catalysts that convert carbon dioxide into butadiene in high yield in collaboration with the University of Toyama. The company said it and the university successfully synthesized butadiene rubber, a key raw materials for tires, using CO2.

The composition ratios of raw materials used for automobile tires varies by category, and petroleum-derived synthetic rubbers including butadiene units (styrene-butadiene rubber (SBR) and butadiene rubber (BR)) account for approximately 30% of raw material overall. This being the case, the tire industry has been activating the research of synthesis of butadiene rubber derived from naturally alternative materials (resources) other than petroleum for practical application.