ZF OPENMATICS and Maxion Wheels announced today the joint development of the world’s first fully-integrated wheel sensor system. The multi-service Smart Wheel Connectivity Solution will track, analyze and broadcast key data such as tire pressure, temperature, wheel load and other wheel and tire performance metrics to drivers, fleet operators, mobility providers and infrastructure authorities. Suited for a variety of vehicle types, from buses, trucks and even agricultural machinery, the Smart Wheel Connectivity Solution helps to improve road safety and efficiency while decreasing costs.
“ZF has the benefit of years of experience with wireless communication like BLE (Bluetooth Low Energy). We are now combining this expertise with that of Maxion to create the world’s first fully integrated battery-powered Wheel TAG sensor that adds important functionalities beyond tire pressure monitoring. The benefits of real-time wheel monitoring solutions are being extended to tire life and optimal tire performance. This is another step in the direction of enhancing road safety, driving comfort and cost efficiency,” said Thomas Rösch, Managing Director ZF OPENMATICS.
“As a result of the unique load sensor attached to the wheel, the tire and wheel information collected via the Smart Wheel Connectivity Solution will enable a variety of new safety and efficiency use and business cases,” said Pieter Klinkers, Chief Executive Officer of Maxion Wheels. “By partnering with ZF OPENMATICS, we unite our wheel leadership with their intelligent sensor and telematics expertise. This lets us offer an integrated solution that will help prevent potentially dangerous and costly tire and wheel-end failures, as well as provide drivers and fleet operators with critical vehicle performance data needed to optimize their business.”
True 360° monitoring
The Smart Wheel Connectivity Solution combines Maxion Wheels’ MaxSmart® wheel sensor technology with ZF OPENMATICS’ integrated TAG sensor platform. Mounted directly to each wheel rim of the vehicle, the durable Bluetooth tags track humidity, tire temperature, air pressure and vehicle load as well as wheel position, speed and vibration across nine axis. Information is collected in real time and wirelessly transmitted to the vehicle’s telematics onboard unit before being transferred to the ZF Cloud. The data can then be read and analyzed via PC, smart devices or sent to a 3rd party system of the customer’s choice. By fully integrating each different data sensor into one easy-to-use TAG, ZF and Maxion offer unparalleled, true 360° monitoring possibilities.
This fully-integrated system can be installed on virtually all kinds of commercial vehicles and even in agricultural machinery. It provides unique, at-first-glance insights, helping to enhance road safety and decrease costs. This makes it highly valuable not only for fleet operators but also mobility providers for autonomous driving solutions.
The new partnership presents its first prototype during the 2019 IAA motor show with the goal to complete the feasibility studies during the first half of 2020, followed by real-world testing and validation.
SOURCE: ZF
