Slip not

Japanese engineers have developed an intelligent tyre sensor that they claim can detect cars sideslipping more quickly than any other technology, greatly improving road safety.

The Tyre Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS) was developed at Yokohama Rubber. The company has launched a number of tyre pressure technologies in the past few years, and in 2004 was the first company to successfully commercialise air pressure monitoring systems for cars in Japan.

But TPMS differs from other tyre pressure systems in that it not only monitors a tyre’s pressure but also identifies the condition of the road and the movement of the tyres across its surface.

The system is designed to be used in conjunction with existing sideslip prevention technologies such as Mercedes’ Electronic Stability Programme (ESP) which automatically controls engine power and braking in each wheel to keep the car stable if its on-board computer detects a sideslip.

Yokohama claims that TPMS will be able to detect a vehicle sideslip 0.25 seconds faster than existing systems as the new advanced sensors are positioned directly inside the tyres, rather than in the wheel hub or car body.