Abstract: Tire sensing systems operable to determine one or more physical characteristics of a tire include millimeter wave transmitting and receiving devices. A processor is communicatively coupled with a memory that includes instructions to transmit and receive a millimeter wave toward and from the tire. Memory also includes instructions to image first and second radial extents of the tire based on the received millimeter wave as well as instructions to determine a dimensional difference between the first and second radial extents of the tire. Vehicles including such tire sensing systems as well as non-transitory machine-readable storage mediums and methods are also included.

Abstract: A method of mounting a tire on a vehicle includes providing a tire having a first side, a second side, and a circumferential tread disposed about the tire. The first side defines a first forward rotation direction and the second side defines a second forward rotation direction. The circumferential tread includes a plurality of tread elements, and at least one of the plurality of tread elements includes a sipe arrangement including a plurality of sipes that are angled in a depth direction of the tire. The plurality of sipes are disposed on a first half of the tread element and no sipes are disposed on a second half of the tread element. The sipe arrangement causes the tire to exhibit a first tire performance when the tire is mounted on the vehicle in the first orientation and rotated in the first forward rotation direction, and further causes the tire to exhibit a second tire performance when the tire is mounted on the vehicle in the second orientation and rotated in the second forward rotation direction.

Abstract: An electronics assembly is provided for use with a tire. The assembly includes a plurality of printed circuit boards, each of which includes an electronic device configured to sense a condition of the tire. Attachment pegs are provided to attach the printed circuit boards together in stacked positions that are spaced apart by the attachment pegs. Each attachment peg has a lower end portion configured to attach to any one of the printed circuit boards. Each attachment peg further has an upper end portion configured to attach to any other one of the printed circuit boards. This enables the printed circuit boards to be attached interchangeably between the stacked positions.

Abstract: A tire electronics assembly includes a base and a plurality of modules. The base is mechanically attached to the tire and includes an electronic device. A plurality of mechanical attachment elements are arranged on the base in a circular array. Each module includes an electronic device and a mechanical attachment element. Each mechanical attachment element on a module is configured to releasably mechanically attach to any one of the mechanical attachment elements on the base. In this configuration, the modules are interchangeably mechanically attachable to the base in the circular array. The base further includes a plurality of electrical terminals arranged in a circular array. Each module has an electrical terminal that is configured to releasably electrically connect with any one of the electrical terminals on the base, whereby the modules are interchangeably electrically connectable with the base in the circular array.

Abstract: A tire electronics assembly includes a base and a plurality of modules. The base is mechanically attached to the tire and includes an electronic device. The base also includes a plurality of mechanical attachment elements arranged side-by-side in a row. Each module includes an electronic device and a mechanical attachment element. Each mechanical attachment element on a module is configured to releasably mechanically attach to any one of the mechanical attachment elements on the base. In this configuration, the modules are interchangeably mechanically attachable to the base in side-by side positions in row. The base further includes a plurality of electrical contacts arranged side-by-side in a row. Each module has an electrical contact that is configured to releasably electrically connect with any one of the electrical contacts on the base, whereby the modules are interchangeably electrically connectable with the base in side-by-side positions in a row.

Abstract: An electronics assembly is provided for use with a tire. The assembly includes a plurality of printed circuit boards, each of which includes an electronic device configured to sense a condition of the tire. Attachment pegs are provided to attach the printed circuit boards together in stacked positions that are spaced apart by the attachment pegs. Each attachment peg has a lower end portion configured to attach to any one of the printed circuit boards. Each attachment peg further has an upper end portion configured to attach to any other one of the printed circuit boards. This enables the printed circuit boards to be attached interchangeably between the stacked positions.

Abstract: A tire electronics assembly includes a base and a plurality of modules. The base is mechanically attached to the tire and includes an electronic device. A plurality of mechanical attachment elements are arranged on the base in a circular array. Each module includes an electronic device and a mechanical attachment element. Each mechanical attachment element on a module is configured to releasably mechanically attach to any one of the mechanical attachment elements on the base. In this configuration, the modules are interchangeably mechanically attachable to the base in the circular array. The base further includes a plurality of electrical terminals arranged in a circular array. Each module has an electrical terminal that is configured to releasably electrically connect with any one of the electrical terminals on the base, whereby the modules are interchangeably electrically connectable with the base in the circular array.

Abstract: A system and method are provided for estimating and applying vehicle tire traction. Vehicle data (e.g., movement and location-based data) and tire sensor data are collected at a vehicle and transmitted to a remote computing system (e.g., cloud server). A wear status is determined, and traction characteristics determined for at least one tire, based at least on the vehicle data and the determined tire wear status. The predicted tire traction characteristics are transmitted from the remote computing system to an active safety unit associated with the vehicle, or a fleet management system, wherein the recipient is configured to modify vehicle operation settings based on at least the predicted tire traction characteristics. A maximum speed for the vehicle may be defined by the recipient, or a minimum following distance where, e.g., the vehicle is one of multiple vehicles in a defined platoon.

Abstract: A tire electronics assembly includes a base and a plurality of modules. The base is mechanically attached to the tire and includes an electronic device. The base also includes a plurality of mechanical attachment elements arranged side-by-side in a row. Each module includes an electronic device and a mechanical attachment element. Each mechanical attachment element on a module is configured to releasably mechanically attach to any one of the mechanical attachment elements on the base. In this configuration, the modules are interchangeably mechanically attachable to the base in side-by side positions in row. The base further includes a plurality of electrical contacts arranged side-by-side in a row. Each module has an electrical contact that is configured to releasably electrically connect with any one of the electrical contacts on the base, whereby the modules are interchangeably electrically connectable with the base in side-by-side positions in a row.

Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed herein for estimating tread depth remaining on a tire mounted on a vehicle. One or more sensors are provided for detecting operational data associated with the vehicle and tire measurements corresponding to ambient temperature and contained air temperature, which may be directly measured or derived from measured tire pressure. A thermal mass of the tire is estimated based on at least the detected operational data and tire conditions, and a current tread depth of the tire is estimated based at least in part on the respective estimated thermal mass. In certain embodiments, the thermal mass estimation may be performed using heat transfer models limited to measurements captured during a cooling down phase of the tire while the vehicle is not moving, thereby simplifying calculation of a corresponding time constant.

Abstract: A tire electronics assembly includes a base and a plurality of modules. The base is mechanically attached to the tire and includes an electronic device. A plurality of mechanical attachment elements are arranged on the base in a circular array. Each module includes an electronic device and a mechanical attachment element. Each mechanical attachment element on a module is configured to releasably mechanically attach to any one of the mechanical attachment elements on the base. In this configuration, the modules are interchangeably mechanically attachable to the base in the circular array. The base further includes a plurality of electrical terminals arranged in a circular array. Each module has an electrical terminal that is configured to releasably electrically connect with any one of the electrical terminals on the base, whereby the modules are interchangeably electrically connectable with the base in the circular array.

Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed herein for estimating tread depth remaining on a tire mounted on a vehicle. One or more sensors are provided for detecting operational data associated with the vehicle and tire measurements corresponding to ambient temperature and contained air temperature, which may be directly measured or derived from measured tire pressure. A thermal mass of the tire is estimated based on at least the detected operational data and tire conditions, and a current tread depth of the tire is estimated based at least in part on the respective estimated thermal mass. In certain embodiments, the thermal mass estimation may be performed using heat transfer models limited to measurements captured during a cooling down phase of the tire while the vehicle is not moving, thereby simplifying calculation of a corresponding time constant.

Abstract: Tire sensing systems operable to determine one or more physical characteristics of a tire include millimeter wave transmitting and receiving devices. A processor is communicatively coupled with a memory that includes instructions to transmit and receive a millimeter wave toward and from the tire. Memory also includes instructions to image first and second radial extents of the tire based on the received millimeter wave as well as instructions to determine a dimensional difference between the first and second radial extents of the tire. Vehicles including such tire sensing systems as well as non-transitory machine-readable storage mediums and methods are also included.

Abstract: An electronics assembly includes a base and a plurality of modules. The base is configured for mechanical attachment to a tire. The base includes an electronic device, and also includes a mechanical attachment element. Each module includes an electronic device, a lower mechanical attachment element, and an upper mechanical attachment element. The lower mechanical attachment element on each one of the modules is configured for attachment to the upper mechanical attachment element on any other one of the modules. In this configuration, the modules are interchangeably mechanically attachable to each other in a stacked arrangement. Each lower mechanical attachment element is also configured for attachment to the mechanical attachment element on the base. The modules are thus mechanically attachable to the base interchangeably with each other, which enables any one of the modules to be installed as the lowermost module in the stacked arrangement.

Abstract: A tire electronics assembly includes a base and a plurality of modules. The base is mechanically attached to the tire and includes an electronic device. The base also includes a plurality of mechanical attachment elements arranged side-by-side in a row. Each module includes an electronic device and a mechanical attachment element. Each mechanical attachment element on a module is configured to releasably mechanically attach to any one of the mechanical attachment elements on the base. In this configuration, the modules are interchangeably mechanically attachable to the base in side-by side positions in row. The base further includes a plurality of electrical contacts arranged side-by-side in a row. Each module has an electrical contact that is configured to releasably electrically connect with any one of the electrical contacts on the base, whereby the modules are interchangeably electrically connectable with the base in side-by-side positions in a row.

Abstract: An electronics assembly is provided for use with a tire. The assembly includes a plurality of printed circuit boards, each of which includes an electronic device configured to sense a condition of the tire. Attachment pegs are provided to attach the printed circuit boards together in stacked positions that are spaced apart by the attachment pegs. Each attachment peg has a lower end portion configured to attach to any one of the printed circuit boards. Each attachment peg further has an upper end portion configured to attach to any other one of the printed circuit boards. This enables the printed circuit boards to be attached interchangeably between the stacked positions.

Abstract: A tire electronics assembly includes a base and a plurality of modules. The base is mechanically attached to the tire and includes an electronic device. A plurality of mechanical attachment elements are arranged on the base in a circular array. Each module includes an electronic device and a mechanical attachment element. Each mechanical attachment element on a module is configured to releasably mechanically attach to any one of the mechanical attachment elements on the base. In this configuration, the modules are interchangeably mechanically attachable to the base in the circular array. The base further includes a plurality of electrical terminals arranged in a circular array. Each module has an electrical terminal that is configured to releasably electrically connect with any one of the electrical terminals on the base, whereby the modules are interchangeably electrically connectable with the base in the circular array.

Abstract: A tire and wheel assembly includes a wheel having a portal and a tire mounted on the wheel, thereby forming a cavity. The assembly further includes a deflection sensor mounted on the wheel over the portal, at a location outside the cavity such that no portion of the deflection sensor is inside the cavity.

Abstract: A system and method are provided for Bayesian updating of distributions of factors that affect tire wear. Information is accumulated in data storage regarding probability distributions corresponding to each of a respective plurality of tire wear factors. Vehicle data comprising movement data and location data collected in association with a vehicle is transmitted from the vehicle to a centralized (e.g., cloud) computing device or network. At least one observation corresponding to one or more of the plurality of factors is generated based on the transmitted vehicle data. A Bayesian estimation is then generated of a tire wear status at a given time for at least one tire associated with the vehicle, based at least on the at least one generated observation and the stored information regarding probability distributions. The predictions accordingly carry a measure of uncertainty, and Bayesian inference can be used to update distributions based on the observations.

Abstract: A tire mold has a cavity with a flexible bladder disposed in a central portion of the cavity. The tire mold further includes a first ring connected to a first end of the flexible bladder, and a second ring connected to a second end of the flexible bladder. At least one of the first and second rings is configured to move between a first position and a second position. The flexible bladder is stretched to a maximum axial length when the first and second rings are in a first position. When the first and second rings are in the first position the sum of the first axial length and second axial length is greater than a space between the first ring and the second ring.