VDU —TYRES, DRIVERS When was the last time you checked your
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tyres? Now don't all reach for your diaries. For those of you who could be accused of tyre neglect there is some good news. A "smart tyre' is being developed by a Goodyear team led by William Dunn. with engineer Wen Ko from Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, Ohio.
The team has patented tiny temperature and pressure sensors using microscopic components known as microelectro-mechanical systems (MEMS). There, you can't say I never blind you with science! The sensors, together with a transponder, can be incorporated into the wall of the tyre during manufacture.
In order to read the temperature or pressure a radio signal is sent out via a transmitter built into the vehicle or a hand-held scanner. The incoming signal will trigger the transponder to run the sensors and report back with the relevant information on the state of the tyres.
Goodyear has successfully tested the sensors in truck tyres, but isn't saying when we might see them on the market.