A system to perceive the structure of a tire chamber is presented herein. The system includes: a memory, controller, wheel, vehicle tire, and sensor. The memory includes executable instructions. The controller is in turn configured to read and execute the executable instructions. The wheel is adapted to connect to a vehicle axle. The tire is connected to the wheel. The sensor is located within the interior chamber of the tire. The sensor is moreover configured to measure a selected portion of the tire chamber. The sensor is further configured to communicate the measurement to the controller. The executable instructions enable the controller to: operate the sensor so as to make measurements of the tire chamber; retrieve (from the sensor) measurement information of the tire chamber; and generate tire-chamber-perception information from the measurement information of the tire chamber.

A tire and wheel assembly includes a wheel having a portal and a tire mounted on the wheel, thereby forming a cavity. The assembly further includes a deflection sensor mounted on the wheel over the portal, at a location outside the cavity such that no portion of the deflection sensor is inside the cavity.

A tire assembly includes a tire and a shape measurement unit utilizing magnetism. The shape measurement unit is provided with one device of a magnetic generator or a magnetic sensor configured to detect a distance of separation from the magnetic generator based on a magnetic field generated by the magnetic generator to acquire a deformation state of a sidewall, in a first region that is any one of a tread-portion-corresponding region and bead-portion-corresponding regions that are on an inner surface of the tire, the tread-portion-corresponding region corresponding to a tread portion and the bead-portion-corresponding regions corresponding to bead portions, and is provided with another of the magnetic generator or the magnetic sensor in a second region.

A load derivation method includes: a distance measurement step of measuring, by a displacement meter attached to a rim, a distance from the displacement meter to an inner surface of a tire; an internal pressure measurement step of measuring an internal pressure of the tire, by a sensor attached in a chamber of the tire; and a load derivation step of deriving, by a derivation section, a load on the tire during running, based on the measured distance and the measured internal pressure.

A tyre monitor is disclosed including a sensor device configured to operate within an enclosed space formed by the wheel and the tyre, and an energy harvester unit. The energy harvester is arranged to convert a first type of energy experienced by the harvester unit in use (e.g. mechanical energy, thermal energy) into electrical energy to energise the sensor device. The energy harvester may be, for example, a piezoelectric device or a thermoelectric generator. In use, mechanical stresses experienced by the tyre monitor are converted into electrical energy which can be used to energise the sensor as a supplement to energy from the battery within the tyre monitor, thus prolonging its service life.

A sensor apparatus for measuring a property of a wheel assembly is disclosed including at least one sensor configured to acquire measurement data; and a mounting member attached to the at least one sensor. The mounting member is configured to engage with a wheel such as to retain the sensor on the wheel within an enclosed space formed by the wheel and a tire mounted on the wheel. The mounting member is further configured to enable the sensor to move around the circumference of the wheel when the mounting member is engaged with the wheel.

A sensor device for use in determining at least one property of a wheel assembly including a tire mounted on a wheel. The sensor device is configured to be attachable to an outer circumferential surface of the wheel which faces an inner circumferential surface of the tire. The sensor device is configured to measure a distance between the sensor device and an object remote from the sensor device.

A system includes a millimeter-wave radar sensor circuit configured to be fastened to a wheel having a tire, and a controller. The millimeter-wave radar sensor circuit is configured to transmit a radio-frequency (RF) signal towards a portion of an inner surface of the tire and receive a reflected signal from the tire. The controller is configured to process the reflected signal, determine a property value of the tire based on processing the reflected signal, and generate and transmit a first signal representative of the property value of the tire.

The present invention is a system for controlling the dynamic performance of wheels on an agricultural vehicle. A sensor is mounted on the agricultural vehicle that generates a signal corresponding to the deflection of the tire as the wheel is traveling along a surface. A controller receives the signal corresponding to the deflection of the tire and generates a control signal to an air regulator to either supply additional air to or remove air from the tire. An additional sensor may provide a signal corresponding to a variable load carried by the agricultural vehicle. An accelerometer may also be mounted on the agricultural vehicle and provide to the controller a signal corresponding to acceleration perpendicular to the surface. The controller is further configured to generate control the air regulator as a function of the varying load on the agricultural vehicle and/or based on the signal from the accelerometer.

A load derivation method includes: a distance measurement step of measuring, by a displacement meter attached to a rim, a distance from the displacement meter to an inner surface of a tire; an internal pressure measurement step of measuring an internal pressure of the tire, by a sensor attached in a chamber of the tire; and a load derivation step of deriving, by a derivation section, a load on the tire during running, based on the measured distance and the measured internal pressure.