Adaptive Tire Treads for Dynamic Road and Weather Conditions
7 patents in this list
Updated:
Driving conditions change rapidly, from dry highways to wet, icy roads, demanding more from our tires. Traditional tire treads struggle to adapt, often compromising safety and performance. Adaptive tire treads aim to address these challenges, enhancing grip, stability, and efficiency across diverse environments.
The key is to dynamically adjust the tire's surface to suit the road, ensuring optimal contact and control. Professionals face the challenge of integrating advanced materials and control systems without sacrificing durability or simplicity. Adaptive treads must respond reliably to real-time data, adjusting to unpredictable weather and road conditions.
This page explores solutions like sensor-controlled deformable tread blocks and shape-changing materials. These technologies work to improve traction, handling, and safety, offering a seamless driving experience regardless of the environment. The focus is on practical applications, showing how these advancements can transform everyday driving.
1. Tire with Sensor-Controlled Deformable Tread Blocks for Adaptive Road Surface Response
HANKOOK TIRE & TECH CO LTD, HANKOOK TIRE & TECHNOLOGY CO LTD, 2020
Tire with adjustable tread pattern to improve traction and stability on different road conditions. The tire has a tread with multiple blocks that can deform in response to road conditions. Sensors detect the road surface and independently control deformation of the inner and outer blocks. During cornering, blocks protrude to increase grip. This adaptive tread design aims to optimize traction and stability based on real-time road conditions.
2. Radially Adjustable Tread Depth Wheel with Electrically Actuated Push Rod Mechanism
FOSHAN UNIVERSITY, UNIV FOSHAN, 2020
Controllable wheel for vehicles that can adjust the depth of the tire tread patterns. The wheel has an electric push rod inside the tire cavity that extends radially to move the outer tread block. This allows the tread depth to be changed electronically to adapt the tire for different terrain without swapping wheels. The push rod connects to an electric contact ring on the hub, which in turn connects to a telescopic link on the vehicle frame. A spring keeps the link retracted, but when the vehicle needs deeper tread, the link extends the push rod to push the tread block further. This allows electronic adjustment of the tread depth on the fly.
3. Adaptive Real-Time Vehicle Control System Utilizing Tire-Embedded Sensor Data for Dynamic Parameter Adjustment
THE GOODYEAR TIRE & RUBBER CO, 2016
A system that optimizes vehicle control systems like ABS and CMBS using real-time tire sensor data. The system involves mounting sensors on vehicle tires to measure parameters like pressure, temperature, wear, etc. An adaptive tire model processes this data to continuously generate revisions to tire-specific performance parameters like braking stiffness, optimal slip point, and shape factor. These revisions are then applied in real-time to the vehicle control systems to optimize their performance based on the current tire state. This provides predictive knowledge of tire braking capability for improved ABS robustness and CMBS safety.
4. Electronically Controlled Shape-Changing Tire with Integrated Sensors and Actuators
DAUBNER & STOMMEL GBR BAU-WERK-PLANUNG, 2008
Adaptive tire technology for vehicles that can change tire shape based on driving conditions to optimize performance. The tires have shape-changing agents integrated into the wall that can be electronically controlled. Sensors detect driving situations like acceleration, braking, cornering, and straight-ahead travel. The shape-changing agents are activated to modify the tire footprint for better traction, stability, and wear in those conditions. This allows customized tire performance for specific driving scenarios beyond just tire tread design.
5. Tire with Adjustable Tread Depth and Pattern Featuring Environmental Sensing and Control System
2008
A tire with adjustable tread depth and pattern that can be automatically or manually changed based on weather or road conditions. The tire has a system to vary the groove depth and tread design on one tire to optimize traction for specific conditions. Sensors detect the environment and controls adjust the tread properties accordingly. This allows the driver to quickly adapt the tire performance to match external factors. It provides customized tire characteristics for enhanced safety and grip in varying conditions.
6. Vehicle Tire with Embedded Shape Memory Material Actuators for Dynamic Adjustment of Structural Properties
DAIMLER CHRYSLER AG, DAIMLERCHRYSLER AG, 2005
Vehicle tire with integrated actuators to dynamically adjust tire properties like stiffness, shape, and dimensions in response to driving conditions. The actuators are made of shape memory materials like carbon nanotubes and nanofibers that expand or contract when electrically charged. These actuators are embedded within the tire's elastic matrix material. Sensors on the vehicle provide data to dynamically control the actuators and adapt the tire properties for optimized performance and safety in different driving scenarios.
7. Pneumatic Tire with Piezoelectric-Activated Variable Tread Block Cuffs
2004
A pneumatic tire design that can adapt the width of the tread blocks' cuffs based on road conditions to optimize traction and handling. Piezoelectric elements are installed between adjacent cuffs. Applying power to these elements deforms them, widening the cuffs for snow/ice roads and narrowing them for dry roads. This allows maintaining appropriate block rigidity for the conditions.
