摘要: |
Onboard monitoring systems can already trigger an alert to the driver and the transport manager if tyre pressures are starting to drop to critical levels and temperatures are rising. Bridgestone offers just such a facility under the Webfleet TPMS banner, and plans to take things further. As well as keeping count of the number of times the wheel on which the tyre is mounted has gone round, and thus the likely tread wear rate, sensors will soon be able to tell if a tyre has been involved in an incident that may have resulted in damage, says Bridgestone technical manager, Gary Powell. The sort of incident he has in mind is the tyre hitting a pothole hard, and the shock that will be transmitted to the sensor by its vertical deflection. A tyre that has experienced such a trauma may be at risk of deflating, and a warning needs to be triggered. Even if it holds its pressure, a technician will need to take a close look at it the next time the vehicle is in the workshop. |