3D Tire Tread Mapping for Reliable On-Vehicle Depth Measurement
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional methods for assessing vehicle tire tread depth provide incomplete and unreliable information due to their two-dimensional measurements, which can miss worn areas and are affected by foreign objects like dirt or debris, leading to inaccurate results.
Innovation Solution
A method for generating a three-dimensional topological surface representation of a tire by using a tread depth measurement device to record data and create a movement profile, mapping the data onto a base tire structure, which can include non-linear equations to account for tire curvature, and employing techniques like spline interpolation and filtering to improve accuracy.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If two-dimensional line scanning is used to measure tread depth, then the measurement process is simple and quick, but the measurement completeness and reliability deteriorate because worn areas can be missed and foreign objects affect accuracy
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from two-dimensional line scanning to three-dimensional surface scanning by introducing a second scanning dimension. The scanning device captures multiple lines across the tread width simultaneously, creating a comprehensive 3D topological map that eliminates blind spots and ensures complete coverage of the tread surface, thereby resolving the contradiction between measurement speed and reliability.
2Device complexity
If two-dimensional line scanning is used, then the device complexity is low, but the information completeness about tread quality deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The invention adds a second spatial dimension to the scanning process, transforming single-line measurements into multi-line 3D surface mapping. This dimensional expansion captures comprehensive tread information including depth variations, wear patterns, and surface topology without requiring complex multi-device configurations, thus resolving the contradiction between device simplicity and information completeness.
3Ease of operation
If conventional line scanning is used, then the measurement process is straightforward, but the accuracy deteriorates when foreign bodies are present in the tread grooves
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality analysis by examining tread depth at multiple discrete points across the entire tread surface rather than relying on a single line measurement. The system identifies and flags localized anomalies such as foreign objects or debris by comparing depth variations across adjacent measurement lines, allowing accurate tread wear assessment even when foreign bodies are present in specific grooves.
Data Source
AI summary
A method of generating a three-dimensional topological surface representation of a tyre on a vehicle, the method comprising: using a tread depth measurement device to record tread depth data for a tyre surface moving relative to the tread depth measurement device; generating a movement profile of the tyre surface; and using the movement profile of the tyre surface to map the tread depth data onto a base tyre structure, thereby generating a three-dimensional topological surface representation of the tyre.