Leading tyremaker Goodyear has developed a non-pneumatic (airless) tyre (NPT) and wheel assembly to support autonomous vehicle transportation in a city setting for in-field use with the Jacksonville Transportation Authority (JTA).
Goodyear and Local Motors have tested an Olli shuttle for the last three years, supported by the NPT at its testing facilities and other locations, reaching several performance targets concerning load, speed and durability.
Both the companies will gather experiential data from the JTA, looking for viewpoints on ride comfort, noise and other variables.
In 2019, the tyre company aimed its NPT concentration to on-road testing and a growing relationship with Local Motors. While this testing phase will reveal more about non-pneumatic tyres, airless tyres may offer sustainable, maintenance-free and longer-lasting options.
The tyremaker says that the urban transportation environment provides an ideal testing scenario for the alternative tyre architecture given its lower speed and less variable travel paths.
Michael Rachita, Goodyear's Senior Programme Manager, NPT, said, 'This is an important milestone as we look to advance mobility today and as we look to introduce the first completely sustainable and maintenance-free tires by the end of the decade.'
Joe Moye, CEO, Beep, said, 'Testing with best-in-class software and technology partners is enabling the JTA to lead globally in readiness for the use of the autonomous platform in an urban environment. We are excited for the opportunity to extend the Test & Learn program with the JTA, Goodyear and Local Motors to prove the use of other innovations such as the Goodyear airless tires, as this will only further transform transportation as we know it.
Vikrant Aggarwal, President, Local Motors, said autonomous vehicles, like Olli, need to decrease maintenance costs and perform reliably, and Goodyear's NPT is positioned to give maintenance teams less to worry about while providing passengers with a quiet, consistent ride.
Goodyear tyres for autonomous
Leading tyremaker Goodyear has developed a non-pneumatic (airless) tyre (NPT) and wheel assembly to support autonomous vehicle transportation in a city setting for in-field use with the Jacksonville Transportation Authority (JTA).
Goodyear and Local Motors have tested an Olli shuttle for the last three years, supported by the NPT at its testing facilities and other locations, reaching several performance targets concerning load, speed and durability.
Both the companies will gather experiential data from the JTA, looking for viewpoints on ride comfort, noise and other variables.
In 2019, the tyre company aimed its NPT concentration to on-road testing and a growing relationship with Local Motors. While this testing phase will reveal more about non-pneumatic tyres, airless tyres may offer sustainable, maintenance-free and longer-lasting options.
The tyremaker says that the urban transportation environment provides an ideal testing scenario for the alternative tyre architecture given its lower speed and less variable travel paths.
Michael Rachita, Goodyear's Senior Programme Manager, NPT, said, 'This is an important milestone as we look to advance mobility today and as we look to introduce the first completely sustainable and maintenance-free tires by the end of the decade.'
Joe Moye, CEO, Beep, said, 'Testing with best-in-class software and technology partners is enabling the JTA to lead globally in readiness for the use of the autonomous platform in an urban environment. We are excited for the opportunity to extend the Test & Learn program with the JTA, Goodyear and Local Motors to prove the use of other innovations such as the Goodyear airless tires, as this will only further transform transportation as we know it.
Vikrant Aggarwal, President, Local Motors, said autonomous vehicles, like Olli, need to decrease maintenance costs and perform reliably, and Goodyear's NPT is positioned to give maintenance teams less to worry about while providing passengers with a quiet, consistent ride.