Project Summary
The Tyre Collective is developing solutions to capture tyre wear and non-exhaust emissions, preventing them from entering the environment and accelerating the shift towards sustainable transport. Its first product is a filter attached behind a vehicle’s wheel to trap ultra fine carbon-based particulate matter from tyres and other non-exhaust emissions. The project will explore the feasibility of an integrated extraction mechanism, combined with real-time monitoring of filter saturation.
Project Achievements
We developed two proof of concepts for two subsystems: a camera-based sensor and analysis model to measure how much tyre wear has been captured by our device per set mileage driven, and a streamlined water-based method cleaning system and accompanying operational logistics to clean dirty filters at scale. Both focus areas are now at TRL 4 and will be implemented on a live trial this summer.
Conclusions
This project was a success and enabled us to partner with new researchers and labs. We tested various novel sensors for measuring plate loading and consequently chose the camera to develop as it provided the most accurate information. While our original objective was to create an integrated cleaning solution, upon evaluation, we found that this was too complex to implement from a technical, manufacturing, and cost perspective. Instead, we took a systems design approach to streamlining filter cleaning, mapping out the pain points and developing processes and methods to minimise them.
Next Steps
The project’s next step is to implement both subsystems in our trial this summer. Testing this on real-world trials will help increase TRL levels and the path to commercialisation. The sensor work will require additional
research before it is market-ready. We will need to test and improve the cleaning system through a couple of trials and evaluate the cost of implementing this service before it is market-ready.
