Tire pressure 'read as you drive'

ERJ staff report (TP)

Birmingham, UK − A British company has developed a device which can read the tire pressure of vehicles as they pass over it, reported the BBC.

The device, developed by WheelRight in conjunction with computer scientists from Birmingham's Aston University, is embedded in the road.

As vehicles pass over it pressure sensors collect data, which is immediately processed to calculate the tire pressure of the car, lorry or bus.

The device is being tested at a Swindon bus depot, where buses pass over the machine at the end of every day's service. If a tire is low, a message is automatically sent and the tire manually inflated to the correct pressure.

One industry organisation said the idea could have merit.

"Good maintenance standards are essential to the safe and efficient operation of heavy goods vehicles," Kate Gibbs, spokeswoman for the UK's Road Haulage Association, said.

"Certainly, in principle, we consider the 'drive-over' system to be a good idea. However, we would want to see firm evidence of its benefits and safety advantages before giving it the 'green light'."

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Full story (and video) from BBC