It’s no secret that devices in our pockets can recognize (and even communicate with) other devices around us thanks to Bluetooth and other technological innovations. In the not-too-distant future, the tires on our vehicles will be able to do the same thing thanks to Pirelli’s Cyber Tire technology.
Our vehicles can already recognize which tires need air, but this new technology from Pirelli takes it a step forward. The Cyber Tire measures pressure, temperature, tread wear, load, ABS optimization, stability control, and grip. It operates via an embedded sensor that works with your vehicle’s ECU to transmit data directly to your vehicle’s display.
Image courtesy of Pirelli
Staying on top of tire maintenance is as important as changing your oil, so this makes sense. If Pirelli stopped there, no eyebrows would be raised, but it also has engineered this technology to be equipped with V2V (vehicle-to-vehicle) and V2I (vehicle-to-infrastructure) communication capabilities.
For example, if you are driving down the street and hit a nasty pothole, V2V capabilities assist in informing other nearby compatible vehicles about the potential danger ahead. Theoretically, the V2I part of it should transmit the location of that pothole to the proper government authorities so it could be fixed in a timely manner, but I’m sure even the tire’s request will be ignored.
Image courtesy of Pirellli
The eventual goal is to take V2V and V2I technology and create V2X (vehicle-to-everything) capabilities where tires can interact with traffic lights and road signs, optimize fleet management, and more. As autonomous vehicle technology increases, these tires will likely become commonplace.
At the moment, Cyber Tires are available at authorized Pirelli dealerships and are predominantly found on high-end luxury vehicles like Aston Martin. Pirelli already has announced that these technology-enhanced tires will be manufactured at its plant in Rome, Georgia.
Increased data about your tires is not a bad idea. Nonetheless, turning your tires into beacons connected to other vehicles and infrastructure around you feels like trading in liberty for safety, especially considering it relies on technology that can be hacked.
How do you feel? Is this going too far? Tell us in the Comments section below.
