ADAPTIVE TYRE TRACTION SYSTEM

USING CENTRAL TYRE INFLATION

SYSTEM (CTIS)
S.Omar Farooq
Electronics and communication engineering, Velammal engineering college,
Ambattur redhills road, chennai-.66
Ph: 9894498833
omarfarooq0892@gmail.com

ABSTRACT: Tires are the only contact point

between the vehicle and the road, without danger
of overstatement, it is safe to say that tires are
among the most critical items on the car. Adaptive
Tire Traction System using Tire Inflator has been
designed and successfully developed, with the
objective of better tare traction. The project is a
reliable, resource efficient which can sense
automatically the type of the road by its ultrasonic
sensors and inflate and deflate the tare according
to it. Correct tare pressure with proper grip leads
safety & better fuel efficiency. In addition, this
system enables saving in energy required to
produce compressed air and the other resources
including manual effort. Adaptive tare traction
system varies the tare pressure of a vehicle's tires
while it is moving. Reduced tare pressure increases
its "footprint." The result can be improved
traction, improved vehicle ride, increased tire life,
reduced road maintenance, extended hauling
season. Reducing the air pressure in the tykes
increases the tare contact area (footprint) and
lowers the center of gravity. Depending on the
ground conditions and tire air pressure, twice as
much traction can be achieved. The tare inflation
system not only influences the vehicle mobility and
reliability when moving, it also helps to ensure that
a need for vehicle recoveries is avoided as far as
possible. It also prevents unnecessary damage &
especially for riders safety. Moreover, Adaptive
tare traction system is designed and developed with
embedded technology enables vehicle to adjust the
tare pressure while driving to match the relevant
road conditions.

I.

Introduction

Tires are the only contact point between the

vehicle and the road, without danger of
overstatement, it is safe to say that tires are
among the most critical items on the car.
Correct tare pressure with proper grip leads
safety & better fuel efficiency.
The project is to design a reliable, resource
efficient system which can sense automatically
the type of the road by its ultrasonic sensors and
inflate and deflate the tare according to it.
Adaptive tare traction system can vary the
pressure of a vehicle's tare while it is in motion.
Reduced tare pressure increases its "footprint."
The result can be improved traction, improved
vehicle ride, increased tare life, reduced road
maintenance, extended hauling season.
By reducing the air pressure in the tires we can
increase the tare contact area (footprint) and
lower the centre of gravity. Depending on the
ground conditions and tare air pressure, twice as
much traction may be achieved.

6. To monitor the dynamic pressure on the tare and

display through LCD.
7. To develop a system that also can manually vary
the pressure on the tires using switches present
onboard.
III.

Fig. 1

Image of tires with different pressure

The tare inflation system can not only influence

the vehicle mobility and reliability while in
motion, it can also help to ensure that a need for
vehicle recoveries is avoided as far as possible.
The system can also prevent unnecessary
damage, especially for riders safety. Moreover,
Adaptive tare traction system will be designed
and developed with embedded technology which
can enable the vehicle to adjust the tare pressure
while driving to match the relevant road
conditions.
A Central Tire Inflation System (CTIS) is a
system to provide control over the air pressure in
the tare of a vehicle as a way to improve
performance on different surfaces. For example,
lowering the air pressure in a tire creates a larger
area of contact between the tire and the ground
and makes driving on softer ground much easier.
This also does less damage to the surface. This is
important on work sites and in agricultural fields.
By giving the driver direct control over the air
pressure in each tire, maneuverability can be
greatly improved
II.

Objectives

1. The objectives of the project are as follows:

2. To develop a system that is economical and easy
to implement.
3. To develop a system that can be used on small
passenger cars this increases passenger safety.
4. To prevent unnecessary damage, especially for
riders safety.
5. To develop a system that can autonomously vary
the pressure on the tires when it detects any
obstacle on its path.

Methodology

The idea behind the CTIS is to provide control

over the air pressure in each tire as a way to
improve performance on different surfaces.
Another function of the CTIS is to maintain
pressure in the tires if there is a slow leak or
puncture. In this case, the system controls
inflation automatically based on the selected
pressure the driver has set. The project comprises
of a microcontroller, which is the heart of the
system coordinating all the functions depending
on the signals received. The system involves in
tracking the tare pressure by the pressure sensors
attached to it dynamically and displaying it on
the LCD. To detect the type of road an ultrasonic
ranger is used and a signal is passed to the
microcontroller on detection of any type of
alteration in the road, if any. The microcontroller
on receiving such type of signal takes decision to
inflate or deflate the tare depending on the
current pressure value. This is done by supplying
the air compressor arrangement, accordingly.
There are two compressor arrangements
available for inflation and deflation. The tare and
wheel arrangement is to be modified so as to
integrate the air compressor arrangement, which
can be achieved through a solenoid valve. The
solenoid valve is used for the system to function
while the vehicle is in motion.

Fig. 2

IV.

Image of our model

CTIS

A Central Tire Inflation System (CTIS) is a

system to provide control over the air pressure in
each tire of a vehicle as a way to improve
performance on different surfaces. For example,
lowering the air pressure in a tire creates a larger
area of contact between the tire and the ground
and makes driving on softer ground much easier.
It also does less damage to the surface. This is
important on work sites and in agricultural fields.
By giving the driver direct control over the air
pressure in each tire, maneuverability is greatly
improved.
Another function of the CTIS is to maintain
pressure in the tires if there is a slow leak or
puncture. In this case, the system controls
inflation automatically based on the selected
pressure the driver has set.
V.

conditions. This dash-mounted panel displays

current tire pressures, selected modes and system
status. When the driver selects a tire-pressure
setting, signals from the control panel travel to
the electronic control unit to the pneumatic
control unit to the wheel valves.
When vehicles are moving faster (like on
a highway), tire pressure should be higher to
prevent tire damage. The CTIS includes a speed
sensor that sends vehicle speed information to
the electronic control unit. If the vehicle
continues moving at a higher speed for a set
period of time, the system automatically inflates
the tires to an appropriate pressure for that speed.

WORKING

CTIS: Inside
Here is a look at the overall system:
A wheel valve is located at each wheel end. For
dual wheels, the valves are typically connected
only to the outer wheel so the pressure between
the two tires can be balanced. Part of the wheel
valve's job is to isolate the tire from the system
when it's not in use in order to let the pressure off
of the seal and extend its life. The wheel valve
also enables on-demand inflation and deflation
of the tires.
An electronic control unit (ECU) mounted
behind the passenger seat is the brain of the
system. It processes driver commands, monitors
all signals throughout the system and tells the
system to check tire pressures every 10 minutes
to make sure the selected pressure is being
maintained. The ECU sends commands to
the pneumatic control unit, which directly
controls the wheel valves and air system. The
pneumatic control unit also contains a sensor that
transmits tire-pressure readings to the ECU.
An operator control panel allows the driver to
select tire-pressure modes to match current

Fig. 3

VI.

Image of the system

Brief model of CTIS

This type of system uses air from the same

compressor that supplies air to the brakes.
A pressure switch makes sure the brake system
gets priority, preventing the CTIS from taking air
from the supply tank until the brake system is
fully charged.
A Closer Look
Here is what happens on the road: The electronic
control unit tells the pneumatic control unit to
check current pressure and either inflate or
deflate the tire to the pressure selected by the

driver. If the system determines that inflation is

needed, it first checks to make sure that brake
pressure reserves are where they should be; if
they are, it applies a slight pressure to the wheel
valve to allow inflation.
If the tires are overinflated, the system applies a
slight vacuum to the wheel valve. When the
pneumatic control unit reads that the appropriate
pressure is reached, the valve closes.

In this illustration, you can see the pathway that

the air travels for inflation or deflation once it
gets to the wheel. The tubing runs from the
vehicle's air compressor through the wheel hub
and then to the tire valve. The "quick disconnect
fitting" allows the tire to be separated from the
CTIS system for removal or servicing. (This
diagram also shows the Hummer's run-flat
feature, which allows the tire to continue
supporting the vehicle even when it will not hold
any air.)
VII.
CONCLUSION
Thus the project will help the drivers to have a
better control over the vehicle and
maneuverability.
Thus can avoid lots of accidents which may safe
guard valuable human lives.
REFERENCE

Fig. 4

Image of the arrangement

Hummer self-inflating tire system: At the wheel

[1]. http://ieeexplore.ieee.org/stampPDF/getPDF.jsp?
tp=&arnumber=1341778&isnumber=29564
(INMOTION TYRE PRESSURE CONTROL SYSTEM
FOR VEHICLES)
[2]. http://ieeexplore.ieee.org/stampPDF/getPDF.jsp?
tp=&arnumber=551226&isnumber=11485
(MONITORING
AND
MEASURING
TYRE
PRESSURE)
[3]. http://www.ctibigfoot.co.nz/h00731.htm
[4]. http://www.aircti.com/