One of the more unusual concepts on offer at the 2019 Geneva Auto Show was Goodyear Tires’ Aero – which is designed to drive on roads and also operate as a “propeller” for use in flight.
Demonstrating the rapid innovation at the core of the modern automotive industry, the Aero concept tire is about as forward looking a car accessory as one could imagine. And while it will probably be some time before autonomous flying cars become an everyday sight, Goodyear is dedicated to being a catalyst for future innovation.
“For over 120 years Goodyear has obsessively pursued innovations and inventions, partnering with the pioneers driving change and discovery in transport,” said Chris Helsel, Chief Technology Officer at Goodyear. “With mobility companies looking to the sky for the answer to the challenges of urban transport and congestion, our work on advanced tire architectures and materials led us to imagine a wheel that could serve both as a traditional tire on the road and as a propulsion system in the sky.”
The Goodyear Aero Concept Tire features a variety of ground breaking technologies:
Multimodal Design:
The Aero is built as a multimodal tilt-rotor concept. This allows it to serve both the function of driving down the road like a traditional tire and taking to the skies as an aircraft propulsion system. Outfitted with a propeller-like design, the Aero is designed to allow drivers the freedom to transition from city streets to open skies with ease.
Non-Pneumatic Structure:
The Aero is a completely airless tire design that is still able to dampen the shock of normal street and highway driving while also being strong enough rotate at the high speeds necessary to promote flight. It features stability spokes which serve the dual purpose of also acting as fan blades.
Magnetic Propulsion:
The Aero uses the power of magnets to generate extremely high speeds without any increased drag or friction.
Optical Sensing:
The Aero is outfitted with extremely sophisticated imaging and sensing technologies which allow it make the transition between driving and flying with ease.
Artificial Intelligence:
The Aero also contains an internal A.I. processor which allow the tires sensors to interact with other vehicles as well as the general environment. The A.I. would be used to promote safety and offer a solution to problems before they could compromise performance.
Though the Goodyear Aero is a conceptual design, it features technologies such as non-pneumatic structure and intelligent tire sensing which are already being utilized in select Goodyear products.
“Goodyear’s concepts are meant to trigger a debate on the tires and transport technologies for a new mobility ecosystem,” Helsel concluded.
Source: Goodyear