Michelin has formalized and disclosed details of its universal tire digital twin, which can convert in-vehicle data into actionable insights in real time to make recommendations to the vehicle or its driver. The solution was developed to ensure a safer driving experience by allowing a vehicle to anticipate its behavior and improve performance without requiring input from physical tire sensors.
“Thanks to its universal digital twin, Michelin not only listens to the vehicle; it whispers (words of wisdom) in its ear in real time!” said Philippe Jacquin, Michelin Group executive vice president of research and development and a member of the group executive committee “Every tire, whatever the brand, has its very own embedded intelligence. By making its tires smarter, Michelin is bringing a new dimension to the role of tire manufacturer and is once again proving its commitment to enhancing safety for all road users.”
Safer driving experience
Michelin’s digital twin is a dynamic virtual replica of a tire. It continuously analyzes and predicts the state of tires at a given time, factoring in tire pressure, wear, load, grip and driving conditions and comparing these with in-vehicle data.
It directly interacts with the embedded systems to optimize their performance, helping to enhance safety by predicting maximum grip, preventing aquaplaning, boosting the effectiveness of ADAS systems such as ABS, monitoring tire pressure and detecting any overloading. This means the vehicle can anticipate grip, improve its stability, optimize fuel consumption and adapt braking distances by as much as several meters.
The integrated system provides real-time support based on tire condition, delivering practical benefits during driving. For drivers, this can contribute to a smoother, safer and more predictable driving experience without requiring changes to driving behaviour.
By providing a continuous stream of vehicle-based data, the system can support predictive maintenance and help extend tire life. Maintaining tires in optimal operating condition may reduce material use and lower environmental impact across the tire lifecycle. The approach is also intended to align with the increasing adoption of software-defined and autonomous vehicles, where performance, functionality and user experience can be updated over time.
Universal embedded system
Michelin’s 100% software-enabled embedded intelligence-driven system makes use of existing in-vehicle data without requiring additional tire-mounted sensors. It is compatible with all tire brands and models and can be fitted to all types of vehicles.
According to Michelin, the solution has been developed in collaboration with Brembo, Hyundai, QNX, ETAS and Sonatus, covering the full spectrum of innovation from fundamental research through to industrial integration at scale.
In a recent partnership with Brembo, the latter’s Sensify intelligent braking system was used to demonstrate the use of Michelin’s digital twin technology in ABS performance. By integrating tire condition data into braking algorithms, the system has shown potential to improve braking performance, including shorter braking distances of up to 4m and increased stability during heavy braking.
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