Goodyear Eagle 360 Urban

Have you ever wondered why parallel parking is so complicated? It would be much simpler to just pull over next to a free space and slide into it horizontally. However, tires and current directional systems do not allow for such simple measures. That could change thanks to Goodyear and its “smart” Eagle 360 Urban tire concept.

“A revolution will take place at the intersection of autonomy, mobility and connectivity,” Jean-Claude Kihn, President of Goodyear Europe, Middle East and Africa, told the 2017 Geneva Auto Show. “Tire technology will be even more important than it is today. To safely navigate their surroundings, the autonomous vehicles of the future will need to learn to cope with the millions of possible unknowns we face in every day driving experiences.”

Unveiled at the Geneva show, Goodyear’s concept of a spherical tire is expected to be 3D-printed and will employ artificial intelligence, which would allow it to feel and interact with its environment, deciding and transforming accordingly. The Eagle 360 Urban would be suspended by a magnetic field, allowing autonomous vehicles to move in every direction in a fluid motion to better maneuver across urban areas.

The company wants to manufacture the Eagle 360 Urban with bionic skin printed with a super-elastic polymer. This would make the tire as flexible as human skin, allowing it to expand and contract as needed to maintain control of the vehicle regardless of the terrain.

The tire’s skin would be covered in sensors to obtain road information. That would help the Eagle 360 Urban make the decision to open holes and grooves in rainy conditions or change to a smoother surface in dry environments.

The tire’s smart nature would also allow it to self-repair. Sensors locate the damage to the tire’s skin and rotate the tire to create a patch. During the process, there is no need to stop the car. In case of severe damage, the Eagle 360 Urban can connect with a service station to arrange a quick replacement.