Kumho in link-up with Ansible Motion on digital tire development

Seoul – Kumho Tire has signed a partnership agreement with UK-based simulation specialist Ansible Motion to develop “next-generation digital tires.”

The deal, announced on 5 Jan, will see Kumho integrate advanced driving simulator technology into its R&D process to improve its “tire performance verification system” in early stages of design.

Kumho said the use of simulators is expected to reduce both the time and cost associated with physical vehicle testing and prototype production, while enabling “more precise and efficient” performance evaluation.

The partnership will help shift the company’s development model towards a more digital approach as Kumho looks to accelerate product development for electric and high-performance vehicles.

“This will serve as an opportunity to advance our research and development paradigm to be more digitally focused,” said Kim Youngjin, EVP and head of R&D at Kumho Tire.

“By actively utilising advanced simulation technology, we will introduce high-performance, high-value-added products optimised for the future mobility,” he added

Under the agreement, Kumho will deploy Ansible Motion’s Delta S3 Spin DIL (driver-in-the-loop) simulator, which is designed to replicate real-world road driving in a laboratory environment.

The system allows various driving characteristics, including vehicle dynamics, safety and ride comfort to be assessed virtually.

At the core of the Delta S3 Spin is Ansible Motion’s “six-degree-of-freedom Stratiform motion system with infinite yaw capability”, paired with a 360-degree wrap-around projection display and interchangeable vehicle cabins.

The platform provides “1:1 cueing” in combined lateral and yaw manoeuvres and can be integrated with “all leading tire-modelling packages.”

The simulator’s “open software architecture” and scalable ground-plane base allow future upgrades such as integration with hardware-in-the-loop rigs.

According to Kumho, the DIL simulator allows detailed virtual representations of tires – including tread design, carcass construction and compound formulation – to be evaluated and refined before physical testing.

Ansible Motions has previously supplied its simulation technology to Michelin, Continental and Nexen.