Yokohama uses AI to predict physical properties of rubber

Tokyo – Yokohama Rubber Co. Ltd has developed an AI-based system to predict the physical properties of rubber compounds, the Japanese tire and rubber products makers has announced. 

The technology, which is already being used to design tire compounds, will accelerate compound development, reduce development costs, and develop better performing products, Yokohama said 15 Feb. 

As well as enabling the company to conduct a large number of virtual experiments, the system is also expected to make it easier for less-experienced engineers to create new compounds.

Developed under Yokohama’s new HAICoLab AI (‘humans and AI collaborate’) concept, the system predicts a rubber compound’s physical properties based on design parameters input by an engineer. 

To confirm predicted results, a function “displays the certainty of predicted physical properties and one that searches for a compound composition that will achieve physical properties closest to the targeted ones.” 

Yokohama plans to expand the use of the technology to develop rubber compounds for a wide range of other products, including hoses and conveyor belts.