Pirelli claims to have become the first tyre company to transmit road surface information detected by intelligent tyres via the 5G network. At an event in Turin organised by ‘5GAA – Automotive Association’, of which Pirelli is a member, the company presented the ‘World-first 5G enhanced ADAS services’ use case.
Pirelli, Ericsson, Audi, Tim, Italdesign and KTH together staged a demonstration that took place on the roof of the Lingotto building, showing how a vehicle equipped with the sensor-fitted Pirelli Cyber Tyre and connected to the 5G network was able to transmit the risk of aquaplaning detected by the tyres to a following car. According to Pirelli this capability was thanks to 5G’s ultra-high band and low latency.
The Cyber Tyre, equipped with an internal sensor, is intended by Pirelli to supply future vehicles with data relative to the tyre model, distance covered, dynamic load and, for the first time, situations of potential danger on road surfaces, from the presence of water to poor grip. This information will enable the car to adapt its control and driving assistance systems, improving safety, comfort and performance. In addition, the technology is being developed to provide the same information to other cars and the infrastructure. The 5G network is used by Pirelli to place the tyre inside a wider communication context which involves the enter ecosystem of on-road transportation, contributing to the development of future mobility and autonomous driving.
On a smaller scale, this year also saw Pirelli present ‘Italia Track Adrenaline’, a product for lovers of track days, which includes a line of sensor-fitted P Zero Trofeo tyres. Track Adrenaline is billed as a track engineer in virtual form, which monitors tyre pressures and temperature in real time and combines this information with telemetric data to provide the driver indications and suggestions on how to improve on-track performance.
