3D Tire Tread Mapping for Complete Wear Detection
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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 potential safety and legal issues.
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
1Measurement precision
If two-dimensional line scanning is used to measure tread depth, then the measurement process is simple and fast, but the measurement completeness and reliability are insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from two-dimensional line scanning to three-dimensional surface scanning by introducing a second scanning dimension. The system projects multiple laser lines across the tire tread and captures their deformation as the tire rotates, creating a comprehensive 3D topological map that covers the entire tread surface rather than relying on a single line measurement.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a digital three-dimensional topological copy of the tire tread surface by mapping scanned laser line data onto a virtual model. This digital replica allows for complete surface analysis without physically examining every point on the actual tire, enabling comprehensive assessment while maintaining measurement efficiency.
2Reliability
If single line scanning is used, then the scanning speed is fast, but worn areas may be missed
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary scanning of the entire tire tread surface by projecting multiple laser lines across the tread before detailed analysis. This preliminary comprehensive scan ensures that worn areas are not missed, and the data is captured during a single tire rotation, maintaining efficiency while improving reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent divides the tire tread surface into multiple scanning zones by projecting several laser lines across different regions of the tread. Each line captures depth information for its specific zone, and the system integrates all zone data to create a complete picture of tread wear across the entire surface.
3Measurement precision
If conventional two-dimensional measurement is used, then the equipment is simple, but foreign objects affect measurement accuracy
Solution Approach 1:
By transitioning to three-dimensional surface mapping with multiple laser lines, the system can identify and exclude measurements affected by foreign objects. The multi-dimensional data allows differentiation between actual tread wear patterns and anomalies caused by debris, water, or dirt on the tire surface.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses feedback from the multi-line scanning data to identify and correct measurements affected by foreign objects. By comparing depth readings across multiple laser lines and analyzing the 3D topological consistency, the system can detect and exclude erroneous measurements caused by debris or contaminants.
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.