If you’ve been keeping on top of the autonomous vehicle tech headlines, you’re probably familiar with vehicle-to-vehicle communication. But what about tires that communicate road conditions to both the driver and other vehicles nearby? Pirelli’s new smart tire aims to do just that.
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Introducing the 5G Cyber Tire
Pirelli recently revealed the new Cyber Tire in Turin, Italy, at the “The 5G Path of Vehicle-to-Everything Communication” event. The brand staged a demonstration on the roof of the Lingotto building so attendees could witness a vehicle using the tire in a simulated scenario.
But exactly how does the tire work? Similar to how V2V systems rely on 5G wireless, Pirelli’s new Cyber Tire relies on this network to “talk” to both the vehicle’s driver as well as other vehicles on the road. The tire has a built-in sensor that it uses to detect road conditions, then communicate any slick driving conditions to help keep passengers safe.
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Implications for the AV industry
In a press release, Pirelli articulated its goal for the Cyber Tire. “This information will enable the car to adapt its control and driving assistance systems, greatly improving the level of safety, comfort and performance. In addition, it will provide the same information to other cars and the infrastructure.” The brand also hopes the industry will use it to further develop smarter safety technologies on current and future AVs.
Concluding thoughts
The new Cyber Tire is just Pirelli’s latest contribution to the auto industry. It will be interesting to see which mainstream automakers are interested in implementing the Cyber Tires on their upcoming models.
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News Sources: Pirelli, SlashGear
