Bridgestone is testing tires in a virtual space
The company Bridgestone has announced that as part of its efforts to expand the use of digital technologies in the tire development process, it has begun operating a driving simulator that allows for the evaluation of tire characteristics in a virtual space, installed at the company's research center near Rome.
The simulator is a platform with a carbon fiber cabin, and the pilot, as noted by Bridgestone, "is immersed in a hyper-realistic environment that simulates real driving conditions", and the 5-meter range of motion allows for the reproduction of efforts equivalent to those that occur during physical testing, which increases the accuracy of data analysis.
By combining high-precision modeling with subjective pilot opinions, already available data, and artificial intelligence technologies, Bridgestone intends to accelerate decision-making in the tire development process. With the help of the new equipment, the company is able to evaluate a much larger number of tire parameters compared to standard tests on test sites, doing so in less time and in a wider range of conditions. Physical testing remains a crucial part of the new tire creation process, but now pilots only go to the track in the final stages of development.
It is expected that the new simulator will allow for the production of 12,000 fewer prototype samples per year, which reduces both costs and environmental impact. Currently, Bridgestone's VTD (Virtual Tyre Development) virtual modeling technology is already estimated to reduce raw material consumption and CO2 emissions by 60% during the development of tires for the primary equipment sector.
The driving simulator will also accelerate the release of products to the market, and the development of tires and vehicles can be carried out in parallel and in a connected manner, which should further strengthen Bridgestone's ties with automakers in terms of creating custom-made tires that help to better reveal the potential of the vehicle.
Although the simulator is currently mainly intended for evaluating handling on dry surfaces, work is underway to expand its capabilities to test tires in an increased range of conditions.
"Bridgestone is already considered a pioneer in the field of digital tire development, as the company has been using virtual modeling technologies for over ten years", noted Mattia Giustini, Senior Vice President of R&D at Bridgestone West, emphasizing that the launch of the new simulator will increase the efficiency and environmental friendliness of Bridgestone's tire development, as well as "open up unprecedented opportunities for innovation development".