Michigan Patent of the Month – October 2022
RoboTire, Inc. is making the world of vehicle maintenance easier. They use cutting-edge robotics and AI technology to automate the tire changing process which frees up mechanics, technicians, and engineers to focus on more technical services and repairs. This state-of-the-art technology has recently been granted a patent.
Their patent covers the automated removal and replacement of vehicle tires. The typical process requires removing wheels from the hubs and replacing old tires with new. The car needs to be jacked up in order to freely remove and replace the wheels.
RoboTire’s automated process is computer controlled, guiding various robotic components to replicate the manual process. This includes an electronic lift device to raise the car. Robotic arms then detect the precise position of each lug nut for a given wheel, removes these lug nuts, and then removes the wheel from the hub with gripping arms. The wheel and tire are then passed along to a separate machine which focuses on physically changing the tires. After replacing an old tire with a new, the robotic arms mount the wheels to the wheel hub and re-secure the lug nuts.
This technology has been perfected over years of hands-on research. The company’s expertise includes specialists like automotive technicians and robotic experts. Between their AI and machine learning technology, the system can adapt to the requirements of any vehicle. Its this precision and adaptability that has achieved the automation of the most basic and time-consuming jobs in the industry.
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