Tire Wear Estimation Using Driving-State Statistical Models

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing tire wear monitoring methods, whether direct or indirect, face challenges such as sensor durability issues, high cost, inaccuracy, difficulty in adaptation to different vehicle types, and manpower consumption, necessitating a more reliable and adaptable approach for tire wear estimation.

Innovation Solution

A method that predicts tire wear based on driving states using statistical representations of vehicle accelerations, yaw rates, and other driving parameters, employing a machine learning model to minimize errors and provide accurate tire wear indicators without additional sensors.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If direct monitoring approaches using sensors located in the tire are used, then tire wear can be monitored directly, but sensor durability decreases due to large temperature variations and forces

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetire wear monitoring accuracyVSAvoidsensor durability
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses an intermediary estimation model that indirectly determines tire wear from vehicle driving data rather than placing sensors directly in the tire. This mediator (the estimation algorithm) translates easily measurable vehicle parameters into tire wear indicators without exposing any sensor to the harsh tire environment, thus resolving the contradiction between direct measurement accuracy and sensor durability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces the mechanical sensor system inside the tire with a computational estimation system that uses vehicle-level sensors and algorithms. Instead of mechanically placing durable sensors in the tire, the system substitutes a software-based estimation approach that achieves comparable accuracy without the durability problems of physical sensors in the tire.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Measurement precision

If direct monitoring approaches using sensors located in the tire are used, then tire wear can be monitored directly, but additional cost increases significantly

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetire wear monitoring accuracyVSAvoidimplementation cost
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent makes the tire wear monitoring system universal by using vehicle data that already exists for multiple other functions (driving state monitoring, performance analysis, etc.). The same vehicle sensors used for general vehicle operation are repurposed for tire wear estimation, eliminating the need for additional dedicated sensors and reducing implementation cost while maintaining accuracy.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The vehicle's existing data collection infrastructure serves the additional function of tire wear monitoring. The vehicle's own sensors and processing systems provide the data and computational power needed for tire wear estimation without requiring external or additional dedicated resources, making the system cost-effective and easy to manufacture.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

3Ease of manufacture

If indirect estimation approaches are used, then implementation cost is reduced, but measurement precision decreases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveimplementation costVSAvoidwear estimation accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent improves indirect estimation accuracy by transforming the input parameters through statistical processing (histograms, percentiles, time-weighted averages) before feeding them to the estimation model. This parameter transformation extracts more meaningful wear-indicative features from the raw vehicle data, significantly improving measurement precision while keeping the system cost-effective and easy to manufacture.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

4Ease of manufacture

If indirect estimation approaches are used, then implementation cost is reduced, but adaptation difficulty to new vehicle types increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveimplementation costVSAvoidvehicle type adaptability
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent makes the estimation system dynamic and adaptable to different vehicle types through configurable parameters and vehicle-specific calibration options. The system can adjust its input data selection, statistical processing parameters, and estimation model coefficients based on the specific vehicle type, enabling easy adaptation across different vehicle platforms while maintaining cost-effectiveness.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentEP4389463B1Method and device for determining tire wears
Publication Date: 2025.08.20 TOYOTA JIDOSHA KK
  • EP4389463B1 patent drawingFigure 1~3
  • EP4389463B1 patent drawingFigure 4~5
  • EP4389463B1 patent drawingFigure 6A~6B

AI summary

A computer-implemented method for determining a wear indicator (W*) of a tire of a vehicle (VEH) so-called test vehicle based on driving states (DS) of said test vehicle during a time period, said method comprising steps of: • determining (S10) at least one statistical representation (HIST) of said driving states over said time period; • determining (S20) at least one parametrized function (FPp, FPn) representative of said at least one statistical representation; and • determining (S30) said wear indicator with an estimation model (PM) taking as input at least one parameter (Ap, Bp, An, Bn) of the at least one parametrized function.