Dreaming in Motion
I magine a tire that utilizes a magnetic float, enabling its user to move freely at low speeds indoors. Or wheels with flexible suspensions that allow for unbelievable turns around corners. Or intelligent tires that attach and detach on buses based on the number of passengers on it.
In 2016, students at the University of Cincinnati did more than just imagine this. Their concepts were then created by South Korean company Hankook Tire. Variations of these inventive concepts may soon be on a road near you.
These cutting-edge works are the result of the Design Innovation Program, a collaboration between world’s best design schools and Hankook Tire’s Design team, initially started by Hankook Tire in 2012 and held every two years. Apart from the University of Cincinnati, other institutions that have held program are the University of Design, Engineering and Business in Pforzheim, Germany, and in 2018, the Royal College of Art, in London.
"The project has constantly proposed futuristic tire systems by studying and predicting changes in the natural environment, driving culture and auto tech in order to lead the future of mobility,"
Nineteen students, who major in Intelligent Mobility at the prestigious, 250-year-old Royal College of Art (RCA) in London, were selected to create new tires that revolve around the theme of “Extending Future Life Beyond Mobility.” The idea is that in 2035, artificial intelligence and robotics will be prominent, as will autonomous driving. In theory, this phenomenon will create entirely new experiences and possibilities for driving.
In January 2018, students were asked to come up with a 3D model of a future tire, wheel and exterior design. In just three months, they had to develop a concept, then complete the finished model. “Hankook Tire wanted to see how technological advances, including shared autonomous vehicles, can change our ways of life,” says Kwak. This theme aligns to the fact that the RCA has added a new focus of study—'Intelligent Mobility'—to their curriculum starting this year.
Hexonic by Yang Liu,
Winner, Public CategoryHexonic
by Yang Liu,
Winner,
Pubic Category
Aeroflow by Rhys Llewellyn,
Winner, Personal Category
The HLS-23
Commercial Category
The Hexonic is integrated with smart sensors that can recognize road conditions, which will be valuable in the cities of the future, when autonomous driving may be a reality. For instance, if streets are wet, this point of data gets processed through an Electro Active Polymer technology, forming blocks and grooves on the tread, maximizing draining and cornering performance.
Hide >Low-pressure areas are created as air passes underneath vehicles in motion. As a result, the higher pressure above the car creates a downforce that makes tires grip the road harder. For high-performance racing, the Aeroflow is able to widen its tread and separate to maximize this downforce. When more speed is needed, the Aeroflow will remain closed.
Hide >The HLS-23 is a tire-based logistics system, ideal for commercial and business operations. Automated transport platforms are made ‘smart’: the self-charging tires can operate individually or in assembled groups, with the flexibility to make 360° pivot turns.
Hide >"Hankook Tire and the Royal College of Art came up with the theme together, which encompasses all pillars of our project," adds Kwak. "It covers the topic of driving experiences in personal and shared vehicles, and the concept of innovation in commercial logistics."
Entries were reconfigured into animation sequences or rendered in full-sized mockups and then put on display. It's a valuable addition to the Royal College of Art's current curriculum; the displays highlight its programs in Intelligent Mobility, and showcase its offerings in vehicle design, tire innovation and urban smart mobility systems. "The project was opened to Intelligent Mobility Masters students who we allowed to self-select," says Dr. Chris Thorpe, Senior Tutor in Intelligent Mobility at RCA. "For those who decided to participate, our main requirement was that they really push their thinking beyond the conventional and really commit to finding truly innovative solutions."
The final selections were unveiled at Hankook Tire's Design Insight Forum last September 20th, 2018 at the Hankook Technodome in Daejeon.Student Yang Liu recognized that tires have had similar functions and design for the past 100 years, and he saw the possibilities for when cars function without drivers. He also envisioned that our needs and lifestyles may change as well. Yang created a tire that was appealing, but also functional enough to enable people to focus on other aspects of their lives. “Since autonomous driving is said to be the next disruptive innovation, I designed a tire which will work for autonomous fleet services… Cars where people can ride without any responsibilities,” he says. “The tire is combined with all the necessary parts in order to transport, like the motor, brake and suspension. This would free up all the space used for the engine. It would also enable a car to run non-stop and would be suitable for different road conditions, so people wouldn’t have to stop for anything.”
Rhys Llewellyn also saw similar traits in autonomous driving but took the concept in a different direction. The competition theme enabled him to “look beyond the traditions of what tires can be." The RCA student saw many converging concepts emerging as a starting point—the fantastic opportunity to utilize data for tire design, the materials (recycled and otherwise) that are used to create new tires, as well as the way we experience movement and travel will be evolving. All of these considerations meant that consumers will demand more from a tire than ever before.
As a result, Rhys created a design for a tire that utilizes grip in a new way, with clear possibilities for future Formula One drivers. “It’s a two-staged approach that maximizes the tires’ effectiveness,” he says. “First, the tire is designed to open to reveal aerodynamic surfaces that increase downforce and is supplemented by an impeller that draws in air to maintain airflow at lower speeds. So, when more grip is needed, the tire opens, but when speed is needed, the tire remains closed. Second, is the controlling of this through big data. The vehicles are linked to a system that pre-plans the track, meaning that drivers are reacting on the fly to the new direction. The vehicles react alongside the drivers, using the data to set up dynamics that allow for the fastest racing possible.”
Hankook Tire envisioned new methods to serve the needs of future smart factories, when the core operations will be using unmanned automation. This tire-based mobility platform is ideal for logistics services, especially in a factory setting, regardless of the form of goods being transported. Designed for grids and coordinates of a smart factory, the HLS-23 allows control of logistics units in a systematic and organized approach.
The Royal College of Art is pleased to see key themes with potentially useful implications emerging in areas of sustainable design, environmental and resource issues.
"The global platform this project provides is a fantastic opportunity to show what the RCA and Hankook—two ambitious, progressive brands—can achieve through collaborative innovation."
As for Hankook, this design competition has already proved to be insightful for its team of designers and engineers, who are constantly seeking new product ideas and technological solutions. At the same time, it has enabled students to win international design awards and develop their future careers. The Design Innovation program is expected to run well into the future, with worldwide consumers benefiting from the results.
"This project is part of our effort to find the vision and solutions for future driving,"
"A joint project with great design schools allows us to learn about the newest local trends and culture, which enable us to present visions and solutions for future driving. Original ideas and designs by the students in every project have shown a new realm of tire and mobility. Fresh ideas that the students present sometimes produce new visions that go far beyond the limitations of the tires and mobility that we know today."
For over 75 years, Hankook Tire has been creating new standards in safety, performance and technology. Discover how the South Korea-based company’s passion for innovation is advancing how we can drive with more confidence on the road.
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