Pirelli Becomes First Company to Develop Tires that Interact with 5G Network

Pirelli has become the first tire manufacturer to use 5G network to send information regarding road surface detected by intelligent tires. The company used a demonstration in Turin to showcase its “World-first 5G enhanced ADAS (Advanced Driver Assistance Systems) services”. The demonstration was held during “The 5G Path of Vehicle-to-Everything Communication” event in Turin that was organized by 5GAA – Automotive Association, of which Pirelli is one of the members.

Pirelli collaborated with companies like Ericsson, Audi, Tim, Italdesign and KTH to hold the demonstration on the roof of the Lingotto building. During the demonstration, it showed how a vehicle that was equipped with the sensor-fitted Pirelli Cyber Tyre was able to transmit the risk of aquaplaning which the car’s tires detected to a following car after connecting to the 5G network. This feat was possible thanks to 5G’s ultra-high band and low latency.

The tire serves as the only point of contact between the vehicle and road and Pirelli is close to perfecting the technology that makes it possible for the tire to communicate with the vehicle, driver and, can even leverage the potential 5G offers to send such data to the entire roadway infrastructure.

The Pirelli Cyber Tyre incorporates an internal sensor and is likely to have the capability in the future to supply the car with information related to the tire model, distance covered, dynamic load and, for the first time ever, of potential hazards on road surfaces, which can range from the presence of water to poor grip.

Using this information, the car can adapt its control and driving assistance systems, and thus greatly improve the level of safety, comfort and performance that is available to the driver. It would also be possible for the vehicle to transmit this same information to other cars and the infrastructure by harnessing the potential of 5G. The tire would thus play a key role in a wider communication scenario that would involve the entire ecosystem of on-road transportation. Use of such tires can actively contribute to the development of solutions and services for future mobility and systems of autonomous driving.

Another major step Pirelli took this year was the development of its Italia Track Adrenaline, a range of sensor-fitted P Zero Trofeo tires for lovers of track days. Track Adrenaline is a true track engineer in virtual form, as it keeps tabs on tire pressure and temperature in real time and uses this information in combination with telemetric data to guide the driver with indications and suggestions on how to improve his or her on-track performance.

The “sensoring” of tyres is an integral part of Pirelli’s “Perfect Fit” strategy, focused on the development of “tailor made” products and services to meet the needs of carmakers, fleets and drivers in general, with a view to the future and the changes underway in mobility.