A wear amount estimation method calculates a shearing force of each rib based on an average grounding pressure of each rib of an aircraft tire; calculates a wear energy of the aircraft tire based on the shearing force; and estimates the wear amount of the aircraft tire based on the wear energy and a wear resistance showing a relationship between a predetermined wear amount. The information related to the aircraft includes an internal pressure of the aircraft tire. The average grounding pressure of each rib is calculated based on the internal pressure and a wheel load applied to the aircraft tire.

A method for extracting changes in characteristics of a tire supporting a vehicle is provided. The method includes extracting selected tire characteristics from at least one sensor mounted on the tire. The selected tire characteristics are transmitted to a remote processor and are stored in a historical data log that is in communication with the remote processor. At least one tire characteristic of interest is selected, and a time series decomposition model is applied to data from the historical data log to delineate exogenous inputs from an underlying trend in the selected tire characteristic of interest. A learning model is applied to the underlying trend in the selected tire characteristic of interest to model a relationship between the selected tire characteristic of interest and a condition of the tire. A prediction value for a condition of the tire is output from the learning model.

Described herein are various systems and processes for predictive operating assistance of vehicles. The systems and techniques described herein may be applicable to vehicles such as vehicles operated by a driver, semi-autonomous vehicles, and/or autonomous vehicles. The assistance techniques described herein may be predictive. That is, the techniques allow for the prediction of non-optimal or dangerous operating conditions before the vehicle control is compromised. Accordingly, a warning may be provided and/or operation of the vehicle may be changed based on the predictive assistance determinations. In certain embodiments, the techniques described herein may provide warnings to a driver, may detect faults within the vehicle, may aid in route planning, may detect obstacles proximate to the vehicle, and/or may aid in the operation of the vehicle.

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

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.

A tire wear estimation system is provided. The system includes at least one tire that supports a vehicle. At least one sensor is affixed to the tire to generate a first predictor. A lookup table or a database stores data for a second predictor. One of the predictors includes at least one vehicle effect. A model receives the predictors and generates an estimated wear rate for the at least one tire.

An arithmetic model generation system includes a tire information acquisition unit, a position information acquisition unit, a wear amount calculator, and an arithmetic model update unit. The tire information acquisition unit acquires tire data including a temperature and pressure of a tire. The position information acquisition unit acquires position data for a vehicle on which the tire is mounted. The wear amount calculator includes an arithmetic model that generates an estimated wear amount of at least one groove of the tire, the wear amount calculator calculating the estimated wear amount of at least one groove of the tire by using the arithmetic model by inputting the tire data and the position data. The arithmetic model update unit updates the arithmetic model based on a wear amount measured by a tire measurement device external to the vehicle and the estimated wear amount.

A method for checking and/or monitoring the use of a tire (1) mounted on a vehicle (7), comprises the following steps: acquisition, by a microphone (10) arranged inside the tire, of an acoustic response of said tire (1) obtained under the effect of a pulsed mechanical stress thereon, and processing of said response in the frequency domain, characterized in that said processing identifies, in the response in the frequency domain, two spectrum spikes situated on either side of a reference frequency corresponding to the first cavity mode of the tire and, as a function of the frequency deviation between the two duly identified spikes, determines information relating to at least one parameter of use of the tire.