Sumitomo and Gunma University to jointly research Level 4 Automated Driving

Sumitomo Rubber Industries, Ltd. has started joint research with Gunma University Centre of Research on Adoption of NextGen Transportation Systems (CRANTS) for the Level 4 (Fully automated driving) and develop its tyre related service.

With the output from this research, Sumitomo will use the feedback for intelligent tyre development and establish tyre service with digital technology to contribute to the next generation mobility.

By using the sensor, the company will be able to observe air pressure and temperature of rolling tyre and react for tyre maintenances when trouble, such as puncture, occurs. When the sensor identifies an abnormal condition, it will provide the information required for action judgement to CRANTS where it has automated driving control centre. With this technology, Sumitomo aims to provide safe tyre service for Level 4 and create fully automated driving society.

Under the environment of current automobile industry which has been changing significantly, Sumitomo has created tyre technology development concept, “Smart Tyre Concept”, in order to provide “Even Greater Safety” and “Even Higher Environmental Performance” for the non-accident society.

For the research of social implementation and the development of highly skilled human resource for next generation mobility system, CRANTS was established as Industry-academia-government innovation for the promotion of next generation automobile industry. In the same year, CRANTS has already started public road demonstration experiment with automated vehicle at Kiryu City.