Autonomous Tire-Changing Bot for Multi-Vehicle Service Throughput

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Solution Overview

Problem

The automobile service industry faces challenges in maintaining an appropriate mix of vehicle service technician skill levels due to labor shortages, high costs of senior technicians, and fluctuating consumer demand, leading to inefficiencies in tire changing processes that require constant human intervention and limit throughput.

Innovation Solution

An autonomous traverse tire changing bot and system that automates tire maintenance procedures, allowing a single technician to manage multiple vehicles by minimizing human interaction and eliminating the need for lifting, with multiple bots configured for specific tasks and controlled by a centralized system.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If fully manual tire changing methods are used, then labor flexibility is maintained, but productivity and throughput are limited due to labor intensity

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetire changing throughputVSAvoidlabor intensity

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The autonomous bot performs tire changing operations independently without requiring human technicians to manually operate tools or physically handle tires. The system self-navigates to vehicles, self-selects appropriate tools from storage, and self-executes the complete tire changing process including bead breaking, tire removal, and tire installation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

Manual mechanical operations performed by technicians are replaced by an autonomous robotic system equipped with automated tools. The bot uses robotic arms with interchangeable tools to perform bead breaking, tire manipulation, and wheel assembly operations that previously required human strength and dexterity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Productivity

If semi-automated tire machines are used, then labor intensity is reduced, but constant technician presence is required limiting simultaneous tire changes

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvenumber of simultaneous tire changesVSAvoidtechnician presence requirement

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSExtent of automation

Solution Approach 1:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The tire changing system is divided into independent functional modules: navigation system for locating vehicles, tool storage system for holding multiple tools, robotic arms for execution, and sensor systems for detection. Each module operates semi-independently, allowing the bot to perform multiple operations simultaneously or in sequence without human intervention.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

3Productivity

If more vehicles are serviced simultaneously, then facility throughput increases, but more technicians and machines are required increasing operational costs

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefacility throughputVSAvoidnumber of machines and technicians

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The autonomous bot is designed as a universal platform capable of performing multiple tire changing operations across different vehicles using the same hardware system. A single bot can service multiple vehicles sequentially or simultaneously at different locations, replacing the need for multiple dedicated machines and technicians.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The system transitions from a single-location tire changing approach to a multi-location autonomous operation model. The bot moves freely between vehicles in three-dimensional space, allowing simultaneous service of multiple vehicles at different positions around the facility rather than requiring all vehicles to be serviced at fixed stationary machines.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

4Reliability

If senior vehicle service technicians perform tire changes, then quality work is ensured, but labor costs increase and availability is limited

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetire changing qualityVSAvoidtechnician availability

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Data Source

PatentEP3909794B1Autonomous traverse tire changing bot, autonomous tire changing system, and method therefor

Publication Date: 2025.11.12 AUTOMATED TIRE INC

Figure 1~1A
Figure 1B
Figure 2A

AI summary

An autonomous traverse tire changing bot includes a carriage having a carriage frame with a carriage drive section effecting autonomous traverse of the carriage, along a traverse path, relative to a traverse surface or a floor on which the bot rests, and a bot frame including at least one actuator mounted to the carriage and a bot drive section with a motor defining an actuator degree of freedom, wherein the at least one actuator has an end effector having a tire engagement tool disposed so that articulation of the at least one actuator with the actuator degree of freedom effects engagement contact of the tire engagement tool and a tire mounted on a vehicle, and a controller effects traverse of the bot along the traverse path effecting dynamic positioning of the at least one actuator relative to a variable position of the vehicle with the tire mounted thereon.