Research into alternative 3D imaging technologies for tyre tread surfaces

在欧盟，轮胎数量超过12.5亿条，价值1650亿欧元。多达20%的轮胎胎面深度低于欧盟法律的限制1.6 mm，这会造成重大的道路安全风险，并通过故障和道路封闭给经济带来成本。轮胎剩余胎面不足会导致停车距离变长和事故增加。鼓励司机和车队运营商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查服务，不需要司机停车，并提供准确，可靠的结果，WheelRight旨在促进这一过程。一项无需下车即可向驾驶员和车队运营商提供轮胎状态报告的服务将鼓励他们进行维护，提高道路安全性并减少环境排放。WheelRight设计、开发和运营免下车轮胎检测系统。他们已经建立了一个业务，围绕提醒司机和车队运营商的问题，他们的轮胎无论是低压，低胎面深度或损坏的胎面或侧壁。然而，简单的警报并不足以满足所有客户的需求，WheelRight的目标是扩大其产品范围，以满足更广泛的市场需求。该项目的重点是研究可用于轮胎成像的不同技术。WheelRight正在寻找一种现有的技术，可以应用于轮胎成像的驱动通过的情况下，将扩展其现有系统的能力。在一家咨询公司的协助下，他们将探索成像领域的最新技术发展，然后将其缩小为几个概念，以进行详细的实验室测试和现场试验。在低对比度、黑对黑的照片上捕捉轮胎胎面的图像，以允许识别细节和协调深度是困难的。加上恶劣的天气条件和道路污垢使它非常具有挑战性。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。将对若干不同技术在轮胎上的性能进行调查。其目的是确定一种技术，可以开发成颠覆现有市场的产品。

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.