Bridgestone Corporation announced recently that it, together with ZMP Inc, has launched a development project aimed at utilising automated driving in tyre noise tests. This project entails outsourcing the development of an automated driving system that incorporates Bridgestone’s tyre test expertise to ZMP, the company that creates products and services based on its advanced robotics technologies.
Bridgestone Development Project Targets Automated Driving
The companies have already succeeded in using automotive driving of manned vehicles at a Bridgestone’s proving ground and are working to achieve SAE-Level 4 automated driving of unmanned vehicles for practical application in tyre noise tests in 2019.
Currently, Bridgestone is conducting various tyre performance tests on its proving grounds that involve test drivers operating vehicles. This new joint development project with ZMP is aimed at achieving automated driving for tyre noise tests. In this project, ZMP conducts development of technologies for automated driving of vehicles for movement within proving grounds tyre noise tests using its automated driving vehicle, ‘RoboCar MiniVan’, and Bridgestone’s expertise in various tyre tests.
Recently, tyre noise regulations were introduced in Europe, Asia, Japan and other countries and regions around the world, a trend that is indicative of a larger movement calling for the reduction of the noise produced by tyres when driving. By introducing tyre noise tests using automated driving to perform tests without relying on the skills and expertise of test drivers, Bridgestone aims to improve the accuracy and efficiency of tyre tests and thereby increase the quality of its tyre products. In addition, Bridgestone hopes to utilise the insight gained through this project in the development of tyres for self-driving cars and other next-generation automobiles.
普利斯通采用自动驾驶汽车进行轮胎测试
普利司通轮胎联手ZMP公司将采用自动驾驶汽车测试轮胎噪音，该项目包含将结合了普利斯通轮胎专门知识的自动驾驶系统发展外包给ZMP，一家基于先进机械人技术来创造产品和服务的公司。该公司已在普利斯通测试场成功采用人操纵的自动汽车，并计划在明年起将一款4级自动驾驶汽车投入测试。
目前，普利斯通在其测试场进行各种轮胎性能测试，包括采用配备驾驶员的汽车测试轮胎。这个与ZMP联手的新发展计划，旨在以自动驾驶汽车测试轮胎噪音。在该计划中，ZMP将负责进行采用其自动驾驶汽车—“RoboCar MiniVan”在测试场里轮胎噪音测试活动的技术开发和普利斯通在各种轮胎测试里的专业知识。
最近，欧洲、亚洲及日本等其它国家都已经纷纷立法监管轮胎噪音，这个趋势呼吁着一个更大的行动，就是降低驾驶汽车时的轮胎噪音。透过采用自动驾驶汽车来进行测试，就不必依靠测试驾驶员的技术与专门知识，改善轮胎测试的精确性和效率，提高轮胎的品质。此外，普利斯通希望通过采用这此计划所取得的心得，开发自动驾驶汽车和下一代汽车的轮胎。
