Michelin Track Connect : 4 months to implement a connected solution

The project and its timing challenges

4 months to implement a turnkey solution.

Automating data collection was Michelin’s goal after launching its connected tire solution MICHELIN Track Connect for Formula E.

Part of the work was already done: the data was now available thanks to sensors integrated into Michelin’s connected solution. Replacing manual checks with automated readings—revolution was on its way!

Objective and Deadline: Deliver a functional product for the first race of the 2020 season in Diriyah on November 22-23, 2019!

Challenge

This was the major innovation of Formula E’s 6th season and a first in the world of motorsports. The possibility of having connected tires became a reality thanks to Michelin.

To ensure the safety of vehicles and drivers in Formula E, the FIA (Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile) included in the championship regulations minimum tire pressure data, both cold and hot, to be adhered to.

4 months to…

• Integrate energy, local intelligence, connectivity, and the entire data acquisition chain into a mobile element for capturing tire pressure and temperature data.
• Encrypt and transmit this data to a dedicated Cloud (data lake) for monitoring all vehicles and processing the data later.

Constraints

Practical:

• A window of just a few minutes to collect data from 24 vehicles, equating to 96 tires.
• Develop a compact, deployable solution that functions instantly in all countries where races are held.

Technical:

• Use a proprietary radio-frequency communication protocol developed by Michelin.
• Work on Edge technology with Microsoft Azure for the gateway component.
• Decrypt data collected by the module. Ensure the solution is globally compatible.

Focus on Edge technology

Edge technology processes data directly at the source without relying on the Cloud. This choice made sense for Michelin due to the numerous advantages Edge provides:

• Reduced latency thanks to local processing and resilience to the absence of an internet connection.
• Complete control of all data and the entire value chain.

Discover our article to learn more about Edge technology.

How to save time in implementing the solution

The choice of a peli case

Mechanical iteration cycles are inherently long. Choosing an off-the-shelf casing became an obvious decision. Manufacturing it, testing it multiple times, and ensuring all technical components fit inside would have compromised the project’s timeline. The Peli case met all the criteria: robust, compact, portable, and easy to handle.

It became the perfect candidate to house:

• A gateway, functioning as a small Linux computer with a radio acquisition chain to collect encrypted data from the connected tire sensors. This gateway also included a 4G modem—certified and compatible for all international races—and a Bluetooth/WiFi interface for processing and transferring data to Michelin’s Cloud.
• Its power supply, consisting of a battery and voltage converters.

Leveraging knowledge and existing technological building blocks

Hardware

To meet the deadline, Michelin teams shared their research on choosing components compatible with their solution. Michelin and Rtone collaborated closely to identify the best compromises and optimal components to achieve the required performance.

Firmware

The challenge was to quickly develop low-level software running on Linux and compatible with Microsoft technologies to decrypt sensor data.

Business application

Once the data was decrypted, it was essential to enable operators to visualize these results as simply as possible, given they had only a few minutes to inspect 24 cars. Rtone developed a software interface to access this data and generate measurement reports for transmission to the FIA.

Agile organization

To move quickly, two-week sprints were established to ensure that each feature was active and every integration was functional along the way.

Learn more about Michelin Track Connect

The connected MICHELIN Track Connect solution also has a version for amateur track-day enthusiasts, enriching the on-track experience. It has been on the market for several months in Europe, North America, and China. It is compatible with the MICHELIN Pilot Sport Cup 2 Connect Ultra High-Performance series tires and includes a highly efficient, user-friendly smartphone app.