XAI and 3D Printing: Nexen Changes Its Approach to Tire Development

Nexen Tire has announced that it is transforming the tire development process by introducing new technologies, such as Explainable Artificial Intelligence (XAI) design methodologies and 3D printing for mold production, which is expected to help the company continue to expand its partnerships with leading global automakers.

Traditionally, the tire development process involves designing new models, creating molds, manufacturing prototypes, and testing them in real-time, after which the product is approved and launched into production. According to Nexen, the new technologies have made the process more efficient and significantly reduced the time it takes to create new tires.

XAI is an AI technology that allows understanding the processes underlying the results obtained through machine learning algorithms. By analyzing information about basic parameters and the impact of variables, the technology helps ensure optimal tire parameters that meet the requirements of developers and customers. Nexen uses XAI to create virtual tire models and evaluate their performance characteristics in a virtual environment, increasing the efficiency and speed of new tire development. Not long ago, the company started using a driving simulator, which "should take virtual design to a new level".

After the design stage, a physical prototype is created, for which a mold is needed, and Nexen uses 3D printing technology for this purpose. This allows prototypes with various specifications to be manufactured in a short time, and since they have already been tested at the virtual design stage, the chances of the product being approved for production increase.

Previously, it took two to three months to manufacture a mold, while 3D printing can accelerate this process by at least 70%. In addition, production costs, as noted by Nexen, can be reduced by 50%, which improves economic efficiency at the early stages of tire development.

3D printing not only accelerates the process but also allows creating diverse and complex tread patterns, which will further enhance safety, especially when using tires on high-performance vehicles. Nexen has developed its own 3D printing technology for molds, which is expected to receive an international patent soon.

"The ultimate goal of all our technology projects is to increase customer satisfaction," Nexen emphasizes. "Transforming the new tire development process not only improves our competitiveness but also reduces the environmental impact, while stimulating revolutionary changes in the industry."