A tire observation apparatus includes an imager to acquire image information on a traveling vehicle, a trajectory estimator, a position adjuster, and a movable assembly. The trajectory estimator is operable to estimate a trajectory of a tire based on image information obtained at at least one point in time and tire information including at least one of a width, a diameter, and a groove pattern of the tire. The position adjuster calculates, based on the trajectory, an adjustment amount that satisfies observation conditions regarding a position and an angle of the imager to observe a state of the tire. The movable assembly changes the position and the angle of the imager based on the adjustment amount.

A method for analyzing fluid around a rotating body includes: a step (S100) in which a spatial model having a rotating computational mesh cell group A and a stationary computational mesh cell group B is acquired; a step (S101) in which a storage computational mesh cell group C is established; a step (S102) in which arithmetic operations for fluid analysis are performed; a step (S103) in which the physical quantity at the computational mesh cell making up the rotating computational mesh cell group A calculated as a result of arithmetic operations for fluid analysis is copied to a corresponding computational mesh cell at the storage computational mesh cell group C; and a step (S104) in which averages over time are calculated for the physical quantities at the storage computational mesh cell group C and the stationary computational mesh cell group B.

A computer-implemented method enables vehicle tire wear prediction based on minimal input data points. Information is aggregated in a hierarchical data structure regarding historical tread values for multiple tires, and respective values associated with the historical tread values for each of multiple parameters that are hierarchically defined from highest to lowest levels. A current tire tread value is provided from a sensor associated with a first tire, and respective values associated with the current tire tread value are provided for each of the multiple hierarchically defined parameters. The current tire tread value is matched with information from the hierarchical data structure corresponding to matching values for one or more of the hierarchically defined parameters having at least a predetermined threshold number of available tread values, and a tire wear rate is predicted for the first tire based at least in part on the matched information from the hierarchical data structure.

A method which includes obtaining a plurality of images of tires that differ from one another in either one of or both of a tire type and a tire condition, the obtained images being regarded as teacher images; converting the teacher images into a size of a predetermined number of pixels; learning by a convolutional neural network using data of the plurality of converted teacher images as learning images, and setting parameters of the convolutional neural network; obtaining a tire image of a recognition-target tire and converting the obtained tire image into a size identical to that of the teacher images; and inputting the converted tire image of the recognition-target tire to the convolutional neural network and determining either one of or both of the type and the condition of the recognition-target tire.

Process and an apparatus for applying noise-reducing elements to a tyre for vehicle wheels that has a radially inner surface with a service area and having a circumferential dimension. The process determines the position in circumferential direction of the service area on the radially inner surface of the tyre, determines the position in circumferential direction of a target area on the radially inner surface of the tyre based on the position in circumferential direction of the service area, and applies a noise-reducing element at the target area. The position in circumferential direction of the service area is determined by circumferentially inspecting the radially inner surface of the tyre starting from a reference position, detecting the angular position of the service area with respect to the reference position and determining the position in circumferential direction of the service area based on the angular position and on the circumferential dimension of the radially inner surface of the tyre.

Apparatus (1) for checking tyres, comprising: a support frame (2); a flange (3); and an acquisition system (4) of three-dimensional images of a surface of a tyre, the acquisition system being mounted on the support frame and comprising: a matrix camera (5), a linear laser source (7), and a reflecting surface (12) which intersects the propagation axis (9) of the linear laser beam and the optical axis (6) of the matrix camera (5), wherein a first angle (50) formed between a first section (14) and a second section (31) of the optical axis (6) mutually symmetrical with respect to a normal to the reflecting surface in the respective point of incidence to the reflecting surface, is obtuse, and wherein a second angle (51) formed between a first section (16) and a second section (32) of the propagation axis (9) mutually symmetrical with respect to a normal to the reflecting surface in the respective point of incidence to the reflecting surface, is obtuse.

A method includes receiving a first input that indicates an aspect of a tire and capturing a first image of the tire. The method also includes communicating, to a remotely located server, the first image of the tire and receiving, from the server, at least one of a brand of the tire, a model of the tire, and a size of the tire. The method also includes capturing a baseline measurement of a tread depth of the tire and calculating an actual tread depth of the tire. The method also includes calculating, using information stored in a database and based on the actual tread depth of the tire and the at least one of the brand of the tire, the model of the tire, and the size of the tire, a value of the tire.

A hand-held device for obtaining a three-dimensional topological surface profile of a tire, the device comprising: a base comprising an aperture; a light source arranged in use to generate an elongate pattern of light, and to project said pattern through the aperture onto a rolling surface of the tire; a detector arranged to image a region of the rolling surface of the tire; a plurality of pairs of guide wheels mounted on respective axles mounted on the base, wherein the guide wheels on adjacent axles are linked by gears; and a rotary encoder arranged to generate a signal corresponding to rotation of an axle.

A tire system for a tire mounted on a wheel of a vehicle that includes a chassis, a light source, a light sensor, a data transmission unit, and a processing unit. The chassis is attached to the inner side of the tire, the light source and the light sensor are attached to the chassis so that when the light source illuminates at a specific area on the inner side of the tire the returning light is detected by the light sensor that produce a signal based on changes in intensity of the detected light that reflect frequencies and amplitudes of vibrations of the tire or bends of the tire. Based on the signal the processing unit detects characteristics of the contact area of the tire with the road, a type of the road the vehicle is traveling on, a degree of wear of the tire, or a size of load on the wheel.

This invention relates to a tyre support device comprising an inclined structure with means for supporting and rotating a tyre at a controlled speed on its axis, avoiding vibrations and deformation thereof during rotation.