Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co. and Dutch independent research organization, TNO, have provided details on their development of tire intelligence technology and vehicle automatic emergency braking (AEB) system integration, which they say has demonstrated the potential to prevent collisions, particularly in challenging road conditions.

Building on the success of Goodyear’s and TNO’s integration of tire intelligence into antilock braking systems (ABS), as showcased at CES 2024, the project further underscores the role of tire data in advancing automotive safety systems, a joint press release from the companies states. TNO is a Dutch independent research and innovation organization.

While existing AEB systems are typically designed for high-friction surfaces like dry asphalt, Goodyear SightLine — the company’s suite of tire intelligence solutions — can help the system function effectively across a wider range of driving environments, including on wet or icy roads, according to the release.

Goodyear says this works through tire contact patches as they meet the road to provide AEB with deeper insights into actual tire and road conditions — enabling smarter, more precise decision-making.

“Safety is a cornerstone of Goodyear’s commitment to innovation,” said Chris Helsel, Goodyear senior vice president and chief technology officer, in the release. “By providing critical inputs about tire and road conditions into AEB systems, we are helping OEMs and their customers take a leap forward in safety well ahead of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s (NHTSA) 2029 mandate for AEB systems in passenger vehicles. Beyond this mandate, AEB systems will play a critical role in automated driving, helping to provide a comprehensive safety solution at all times.”

Recent wet road testing indicates that an enhanced AEB system incorporating Goodyear SightLine technology has the potential to assist in mitigating impacts at speeds up to 50 mph by engaging vehicle brakes earlier, according to the release.

“TNO is dedicated to enhancing the safety, efficiency, and sustainability of vehicles,” said Martijn Stamm, TNO unit mobility and built environment marketing director, in the release. “Our collaboration with Goodyear aims to predict the braking distance of a vehicle in more conditions, like dry and wet asphalt, and trigger the AEB timely to reduce accidents and ultimately save lives. This knowledge is a key enabler for a safe introduction of higher levels of automation.”

In 2016, automakers voluntarily committed to installing AEB in all new vehicles by 2025 and have met that commitment, according to the Alliance for Automotive Innovation (Auto Innovators).

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) reported in December 2023 that it “…expects this voluntary commitment to prevent 42,000 crashes and 20,000 injuries by 2025.”

In October, AAA shared the results of its recent AEB tests. When tested at speeds up to 35 mph, 2024 model year vehicles equipped with AEB avoided all forward collisions, according to AAA. In comparison, 2017 and 2018 models avoided collisions 51% of the time.