Goodyear extends airless tire tech to Starship Technologies robots
Goodyear has developed and is testing out a custom engineered non-pneumatic (airless) tyre (NPT) for Starship Technologies delivery robots.
Starship Technologies, a Goodyear Ventures portfolio company, operates a network of over 1,000 autonomous robots that carry and deliver packages, groceries and food directly to customers.
Goodyear has developed the aforementioned airless tyre with the aim of extending tyre life and reducing maintenance activities for Starship’s delivery fleet.
Goodyear and Starship have entered an in field testing phase at Bowling Green State University to evaluate vehicle and tyre dependencies. They say that early data has shown positive results with respect to treadwear, braking and vibration dampening.
“We are excited to extend our unique airless tyre architectures into new forms of mobility,” says Michael Rachita, Goodyear’s Senior Programme Manager, Non-Pneumatic Tyres.
“The micro delivery space presents a different set of needs as it relates to the tyre, and our NPT technology is ideal to meet those needs to help enable a maintenance-free and long-lasting experience.”
“Our delivery robots make thousands of deliveries every day in all types of weather conditions and terrain,” says Siim Viilup, Mechanical Engineering Manager, Starship Technologies.
“To make sure we can keep up with the growing demand for our services, we need tyres that are reliable and keep our robots on the move around the clock and around the globe. It’s great to see these new tyres offering reliability, as well as cost savings, as we scale our business.”
