Check pressure and treads by computer
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• Abingdon-based RL Automotive and lmagemap of the US have teamed up to produce a hand-held tyre analyser system for monitoring tread and pressure.
The Digiscan TreadScanner, reads the entire contour while the tyre is on the vehicle, and displays the tread's cross-section, using specialist software, on either a laptop or hand-held computer.
The scan takes about five seconds with a reading every half millimetre across the tread. Data is transmitted through a cable to any computer, including a palmtop, with an RS232 port, where it can be viewed, then exported to an Excel-style spreadsheet for further analysis. Digiscan weighs 1.5kg, is 700mm long and operates via a single button.
It uses a low energy laser powered by re-chargeable batteries in the handle; one charge is said to do more than 250 scans. Ri_ Automotive has a prototype for demonstrations and expects production versions to become available by the summer at a cost of just under £1,000 depending on the software package.
• Contact: Mark Longdon on 01235835959.