In a follow up to the story of Generating Electric Power within a Tyre, Sumitomo Rubber Industries (SRI) has further developed the technology. SRI and Professor Hiroshi Tani of Kansai University have conducted joint research on technology which generates electricity from the rotation of tyres. This is achieved by mounting an energy harvester, a small power generating device, within the tyre which captures static electricity.
The results of the research mean it is now possible to supply power to peripheral tyre sensors, such as tyre pressure monitoring system (TPMS) sensors, without the need for batteries.
SRI has developed an integrated system which uses the electricity generated by the energy harvester to charge a power control until, which in turn activates and supplies power to an external sensor. During speeds of 50km/h, the system produces over 800 microwatts of power, which is enough to activate an external sensor and achieve continuous Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) transmission.
