Hankook collaborating on traffic-risk detection system

NEU-ISENBURG, Germany—Road noise soon could make your drive safer.

Hankook Tire is collaborating with Seoul, South Korea-based data and test company SK Planet on a monitoring system that identifies potential traffic risks in real time.

The "road risk detection solution" uses artificial intelligence and deep learning technology to analyze road noise of passing cars and to identify potential risks, Hankook said in a Sept. 30 statement.

The platform will identify risks such as rainfall, snow, black ice, accidents or other potential dangers and report them to relevant public transport departments, Hankook said.

The statement did not offer details on how the technology will be installed on vehicles and whether it will involve special tire sensors.

To efficiently use AI, Hankook said it will provide a wide range of different noise data to SK Planet to improve and increase the accuracy of the technology.

The data will be collected at Hankook's test driving tracks in Geumsan, Korea, and Ivalo, Finland.

According to Hankook, the system is expected to be adapted and implemented to winter road traffic surveillance and control as soon as the development is complete.

SK Planet holds the patent for sound processing and the deep-learning technology that makes this solution possible.

"Aligned with Hankook Tire's commitment to digital transformation, this partnership will also further advance the automotive industry," said Klaus Krause, head of the European research and development center at Hankook.