HIRATSUKA, Japan—Yokohama Rubber Co. Ltd. is getting into the artificial intelligence game, hoping to solve logistical issues in the world of truck and bus tires.
The Hiratsuka, Japan-based tire giant intends to test AI technology to gauge tire pressure, an innovation that furthers the company's initiative to develop technology that will aid the tire industry's shift to sustainability and autonomous vehicles, the company said.
"Daily check of the air pressure of truck and bus tires with pressure gauges can cause valve failure and air leakage," the company said in a news release. "In addition, real-time monitoring can be costly. As a result, tapping the tire with a hammer remains the main method for checking air pressure. However, determining whether a tire has appropriate air pressure by simply tapping the tire with a hammer can be difficult even for the most experienced drivers."
In response to uncertainty when it comes to driver experience, Yokohama has partnered with analytical technology firm Metrika Inc. to develop an algorithm to test tire pressure using the hammer tapping method. The tests will "further improve the accuracy" of Yokohama's existing AI algorithms, officials said, and provide companies with solutions to numerous logistics challenges.
"Using AI to gauge tire air pressure from the sound made by tapping the tire, which previously relied on the driver's experience, will provide logistics companies with solutions to various issues," the company said, "including safe vehicle operation via improved air-pressure measurement, cost reductions and greater operational efficiency through labor-saving, and raising fuel efficiency by appropriately managing tire air pressure."
The joint effort has resulted in an algorithm that can distinguish tire pressure from sound alone, Yokohama said. With the new technology set to go to testing and more innovation coming down the pipeline, the company is hoping to eliminate the need for driver experience when it comes to pressure checking.
"In addition, Yokohama Rubber and Metrika have developed a prototype of specialized application and are currently conducting practical testing at a transportation-related company," Yokohama added. "Using this technology, drivers will be able to visually grasp the tire's air pressure and any need for adding pressure by recording on a smartphone app the sound made when tapping the tire. This technology will make it possible for anyone to perform a highly precise air-pressure check without the need for a special device or any special skill."