DETROIT (March 5)—Qineti Q P.L.C., the former United Kingdom defense agency, and First Technology P.L.C., a global supplier of safety and comfort products, have co-developed a valve-mounted, battery-less tire pressure monitor which uses sensor valves that can be fitted to the wheel just as conventional pressure valves are. he two exhibited the new product during the Society of Automotive Engineers 2003 World Congress March 3-6 in Detroit. The sensor valves feature a thin element of metallic alloy, developed by QinetiQ, that "changes in characteristic" as the tire deflates and then is detected and conveyed, through radio waves, by on-board monitoring equipment. The system allows for individual monitoring of the pressure in each of the road tires and the spare tire. QinetiQ, a wholly, government-owned company, in December partnered with the Carlyle Group, a global private equity firm, to gain access to capital investment, global expertise and cross-industry contacts. The English government plans to float the company in three to five years.
Qinetiq and First Technology develop valve-mounted, battery-less tire pressure monitor
Letter
to the
Editor
Rubber News wants to hear from its readers. If you want to express your opinion on a story or issue, email your letter to Editor Bruce Meyer at [email protected].