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Iowa State University researchers have utilized soft, flexible capacitive strain gauges to report real-time changes in tire shape.  This information can provide information regarding tire slip, changes in driving surface and structural health of the tire.

Iowa State University researchers have demonstrated the use of pliant capacitive strain sensors to monitor flexure in automotive tires.  The strain sensors, previously patented by MIT (U.S. Patent 8,384,398), are inexpensive to manufacture, responsive to small amounts of strain, and can easily be deployed around the entire interior circumference of the tire.  Information from the sensors could be used to monitor the structural health of the tire, terrain conditions, tire slip, over-inflation, loss of contact with the driving surface, and more.  Feedback can inform the driver of imminent failure and deteriorating road conditions, with application in personal, commercial and industrial vehicles.

• Flexible strain sensors minimize flexure mismatch with tire wall

• Sensitive to small amounts of stress

Tire monitoring to enhance the safety and controllability of vehicles