By Christopher A. Sawyer
The Virtual Driver

(March 26, 2018) Pirelli calls it “Cyber Car,” a technology that enables a vehicle’s tires to gather information and transmit the data to the on-board computers, particularly the driver assistance systems. The first applications of this technology will be on sale in OEM vehicles by the end of the year.

Designed in collaboration with automakers, Cyber Car uses sensors embedded in the tire to capture and transmit pressure, internal temperature, tread depth and other information to the vehicle. It has the advantage of knowing the exact weight of the vehicle, as well as the weight at each tire, and this information can be used to modify the response of safety systems like ABS or electronic stability control.



This information also can be used to alter the settings of electronic dampers, opening the door to real-time adjustments in steering, suspension and brake response based not only on conditions but on inputs from the driver. It also can be used to determine the actual range of electric vehicles based on these inputs.

The first Cyber Car-equipped vehicles will go on sale later this year, and provide information on the tire’s vertical load, temperature and pressure.

It can warn the driver of incorrect pressures through the vehicle’s infotainment system, and even warn of impending failure. Additionally, Cyber Car will be able to recommend when seasonal rotation of the tires should occur, and even schedule servicing, car cleaning and call roadside assistance. In the future, Cyber Car will be able to collect even more data and transmit this information to the on-board systems with every wheel rotation. 

But, for now, that level of information gathering and transfer is restricted to Ferrari’s FXXK, the track use only version of the La Ferrari.

The Virtual Driver