Integrated, intelligent tire data is contributing to improved safety in AV performance. The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company and Gatik, an autonomous middle-mile delivery company, have successfully expanded the use of tire intelligence technology in an autonomous driving system.
Gatik’s autonomous fleet of Class 3 – 7 box trucks utilize Goodyear’s SightLine technology incorporated into Endurance RSA tires.
This integration, according to the companies, aims to facilitate enhanced safety, accuracy and efficiency in fleet operations. Gatik plans to apply the tire solution across a large portion of its autonomous fleet in the US and Canada in 2024.
The collaboration also includes ongoing rigorous testing at Goodyear’s San Angelo Proving Grounds in Texas. Here, Gatik’s autonomous vehicles underwent extensive testing on a safe, closed course, covering common and unusual road scenarios. These scenarios include traffic lights, road signs, evasive maneuvers, tight turns, collision avoidance, precise lane keeping and minimum-risk stopping distances.
Testing data includes information on cornering and braking stiffness, rolling resistance and tire load. Through a real-time feedback loop between Goodyear SightLine technology and Gatik’s autonomous driving system, the tire intelligence data should facilitate Gatik’s AVs to adapt swiftly and safely to diverse road conditions.
“Being the vehicle’s only contact point to the road, the tire can play a pivotal role in enabling the vehicle to react like a driver would,” said Chris Helsel, senior vice president of global operations and CTO at Goodyear.
“The real-time data derived from intelligent tire technology not only enhances the safety and predictability of our autonomous vehicles, but also enables us to maintain high levels of efficiency, reliability and delivery uptime throughout our operations,” said Gautam Narang, Gatik’s CEO and co-founder.
Goodyear and Gatik plan to incorporate Goodyear’s advanced predictive road condition monitoring solution into Gatik’s autonomous driving system.
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