Continental’s newest tire idea inflates itself because it rolls

Automotive provider large Continental has come out with a brand new tire idea whose know-how could find yourself in manufacturing within the not too distant future.

Known as Conti C.A.R.E. (Related, Autonomous, Dependable and Electrified), the idea was first proven ultimately month’s Frankfurt Worldwide Motor Present and was developed with future self-driving taxi fleets in thoughts.

The tire options sensors capable of measure key vitals corresponding to tread depth, temperature, air stress, and indicators of harm. When neccessary, the tire can ship data from these sensors to a cloud community the place a fleet supervisor may monitor it. Suppose the tread on a self-driving taxi is getting low, the fleet supervisor would obtain a warning and will name the automobile again to the station.

Continental Conti C.A.R.E. tire idea

One other fascinating facet is the tire’s skill to actively regulate its air stress on the run. That is made doable by centrifugal pumps constructed into an accompanying wheel hub. Because the automobile accelerates, the centrifugal forces throughout the wheel act on the pump to compress air. This air could possibly be saved in a small tank and used so as to add air to the tires when the stress drops, which in flip would assist total effectivity.

The system has been designed in order that it may possibly quickly adapt the air stress, too. This might have advantages for efficiency driving, the place the tire stress is adjusted relying on the driving scenario. Keep in mind, you need your tires to have most contact with the street when driving on the restrict, corresponding to at a monitor, and this may be affected by the temperature of the tires and the present state of the air stress.

The options do not finish there, although. The wheel contains a modified outer rim that Continental stated can cut back vibrations and consequently ship a smoother, extra comfy journey.