Research into alternative 3D imaging technologies for tyre tread surfaces

在欧盟，轮胎数量超过12.5亿个，价值1650亿欧元。多达20%的轮胎胎面深度低于欧盟法律规定的1.6毫米，这对道路安全构成了重大风险，并通过故障和道路封闭给经济带来了成本。轮胎的剩余胎面不足会导致停车距离延长和意外增加，鼓励司机和车队操作员保养轮胎，对提高道路安全和减少道路交通事故至关重要。通过提供自动化的轮胎检测服务，不需要司机停车，并提供准确、可靠的结果，WheelRight的目标是促进这一过程。一项向司机和车队操作员提供轮胎状态报告的服务，无需下车，将鼓励他们进行维护，提高道路安全，减少环境排放。车轮权利设计、开发和操作免下车轮胎检测系统。他们已经建立了一项业务，就是提醒司机和车队运营商他们的轮胎存在问题，无论是低气压、低胎面深度还是胎面或侧壁损坏。然而，简单的警报对所有客户来说是不够的，WheelRight正致力于扩大他们的产品范围，以满足更广泛的市场。该项目专注于研究可用于轮胎成像的不同技术。惠莱特正在寻找一种现有的技术，可以应用于免下车场景中的轮胎成像，以扩展他们现有系统的能力。在一家咨询公司的帮助下，他们将探索成像技术的最新发展，然后将这些技术缩小到几个概念，进行详细的实验室测试和现场试验。以一种能够在低对比度的黑底照片上识别细节和协调深度的方式捕捉轮胎胎面图像是困难的。再加上恶劣的天气条件和道路泥土，这使得它非常具有挑战性。在这个项目中，WheelRight的目标是研究不同的技术，并评估它们是否适合用于所有品牌和型号的轮胎。许多不同的技术将被调查它们在轮胎上的性能。其目的将是确定一种可以开发成对现有市场具有颠覆性的产品的技术。

In the EU the tyre population exceeds 1,250 million tyres valued at €165 billion. Up to 20% of tyres have tread depths below the EU legal limit of 1.6mm posing a significant road safety risk and cost to the economy through breakdowns and road closures. Insufficient remaining tread on tyres leads to longer stopping distances and increased accidents.Encouraging drivers and fleet operators to maintain their tyres is essential to increase road safety and reduce road traffic incidents. Through provision of a tyre inspection service that is automated, does not require the driver to stop, and provides accurate, reliable results, WheelRight are aiming to facilitate this process. A service that gives drivers and fleet operators a report on the state of their tyres without getting out of the vehicle will encourage their maintenance, increase road safety, and reduce environmental emissions.WheelRight design, develop and operate drive-through tyre inspection systems. They have built a business around alerting drivers and fleet operators to problems with their tyres whether it is low pressure, low tread depth or damage on the tread or sidewall. However, simple alerts are not sufficient for all customers and WheelRight are aiming to extend the scope of their product offering to address a wider market.This project is focussed on investigating different technologies that could be used for the imaging of tyres. WheelRight are looking for an existing technology that can be applied to tyre imaging in a drive-through scenario that will extend the capabilities of their existing system. With the assistance of a consultancy, they will explore the latest technological developments in imaging before narrowing these to a couple of concepts to subject to detailed lab tests and field trials.Capturing images of tyre tread in a way that allows detail to be identified and depths reconciled on low contrast, black-on-black pictures is difficult. Adding in poor weather conditions and road dirt makes it very challenging. During this project WheelRight aim to research different technologies and assess their suitability to be used for tyres of all makes and models. A number of different technologies will be investigated with respect to their performance on tyres. The aim will be to identify a technology that can be developed into a product disruptive to the existing market.