LONDON (June 22, 2012) — Michelin U.K. Ltd. is equipping buses to be used for the 2012 Olympic Games in London with “smart” tires that use micro-chips with pressure and temperature sensors as well as RFID capability.
The RFID chip has a lifespan longer than the tire and is self-powered, Michelin said. The data contained in the chips are transmitted by a non-contact radio frequency system. These waves also provide power to the chip, obviating the need for a battery.
With the Michelin “communicating” tire, an operator walks past the vehicle with an electronic reader that gathers complete data and at the same time receives each tire's unique identification number from the RFID chip. This enables operators to ensure flawless traceability as to the tire's history, Michelin said.
Michelin said it has spent seven years on research, filed around 20 patent families and tested about 50,000 tires over 3.7 billion miles at venues around the world.
The tires will be used on a fleet of buses operated by Stagecoach Group P.L.C., one of the first European fleets to be trialing the use of RFID technology in their Michelin tires.
Michelin did not say how much it spending to equip the bus fleet with RFID-equipped Michelin X InCity tires.
Michelin said more than 85 percent the London bus fleet are equipped with Michelin tires.
The City of London and the Olympic Organizing Committee said they expect an average of 500,000 spectators, athletes, journalists and officials to be using public transport during the Olympic Games and Paralympic games.