AutoAlign for Germany
Lead Participant:
RL CAPITAL LIMITED
Abstract
AutoAlign is an innovative solution to tackling air and water pollution from tyres, and greenhouse gas emissions through the continuous measurement of a vehicle's wheel alignment - the most significant cause of excessive tyre and road wear. With half of all cars and a third of all trucks on the World's roads out of alignment at any one time, road transport is responsible for up to 50% of all particulate matter (PM) emissions in OECD countries and tyre wear is responsible for 10% of the microplastics in the oceans. 1 degree of wheel misalignment increases rolling resistance by 15%, fuel consumption by 3% and tyre wear by 7%.
The AutoAlign system consists of smart sensors that are easily attached to vehicle wheels, continuously measuring wheel alignment. The data from these sensors is transmitted to the cloud and analysed using Artificial Intelligence techniques that determine exact alignment status. Wheel misalignment is detected as it happens and the driver and/or fleet operator is immediately notified so corrective action can be taken before it negatively affects wear. Through a real-time alignment measurement system, vehicle owners/operators are encouraged to proactively maintain correct wheel alignment, consequently reducing tyre and particulate emissions.
Germany, as the Europe's largest market for cars, vans and trucks is a primary international sales target. The Country also has a strong environmental focus and a very large logistics market, with over 3 million commercial vehicles on the roads (five times the UK),
Innovate UK's funding of a feasibility study during Q1 2022 into a product launch in Germany and establishing international R&D collaborations will accelerate our route to market and help us grow rapidly international revenue streams.
The market opportunity for the AutoAlign solution is massive and would help, in Europe alone, reduce 25,000 tons of microplastics from the environment, reduce CO2 emissions by more than 1m tons from the lower fuel consumption. An additional benefit is a cut in annual Worldwide manufacture of up to 30 million car and 1 million truck tyres, equivalent to a CO2 reduction of 850,000 tons.
The AutoAlign system consists of smart sensors that are easily attached to vehicle wheels, continuously measuring wheel alignment. The data from these sensors is transmitted to the cloud and analysed using Artificial Intelligence techniques that determine exact alignment status. Wheel misalignment is detected as it happens and the driver and/or fleet operator is immediately notified so corrective action can be taken before it negatively affects wear. Through a real-time alignment measurement system, vehicle owners/operators are encouraged to proactively maintain correct wheel alignment, consequently reducing tyre and particulate emissions.
Germany, as the Europe's largest market for cars, vans and trucks is a primary international sales target. The Country also has a strong environmental focus and a very large logistics market, with over 3 million commercial vehicles on the roads (five times the UK),
Innovate UK's funding of a feasibility study during Q1 2022 into a product launch in Germany and establishing international R&D collaborations will accelerate our route to market and help us grow rapidly international revenue streams.
The market opportunity for the AutoAlign solution is massive and would help, in Europe alone, reduce 25,000 tons of microplastics from the environment, reduce CO2 emissions by more than 1m tons from the lower fuel consumption. An additional benefit is a cut in annual Worldwide manufacture of up to 30 million car and 1 million truck tyres, equivalent to a CO2 reduction of 850,000 tons.
Lead Participant | Project Cost | Grant Offer |
|---|---|---|
| RL CAPITAL LIMITED | £29,948 | £ 20,964 |
People |
ORCID iD |
| Mark Longden (Project Manager) |