**Development of Big Data and AI-Based Systems: Enhancing Product Performance and Reducing Costs**
Kumho Tire has completed the construction of a digital twin system for virtual product development and is actively applying it to product development. To rapidly respond to the rapidly changing mobility industry, Kumho Tire began its digital transformation in 2021 to innovate its tire development process and has successfully developed a digital twin system by integrating CAE (Computer Aided Engineering), AI, and digital technologies.
Traditionally, when developing new tire products, prototypes were produced, and testing was conducted using these prototypes. By using the newly developed digital twin technology, the performance of new tire products can be predicted through virtual modeling techniques and big data applied to the system. Based on these predictions, AI-based optimization design can enhance product performance while reducing costs.
The new tire development process, based on digital systems, automatically designs various versions of tire product drawings, performs automatic performance predictions using big data and CAE, and selects versions to derive the final version through AI-based optimal design. This is followed by a final verification process of tire performance through virtual testing based on vehicle dynamics analysis.
In the tire product development process, it is crucial to optimally design design elements such as compounds, patterns, structure, and shape to satisfy driving performance criteria such as rolling resistance, braking, wear, ride comfort, and noise vibration. Kumho Tire anticipates that the newly developed digital twin technology will significantly contribute to innovating the overall tire development process, reducing the development period, enhancing product performance, and lowering development costs.
Kihwun Kim, Director of Kumho Tire’s VPD (Virtual Product Development) Center, stated, “Kumho Tire is innovating the tire development process by adopting new technologies such as CAE, AI, and digital technologies. The establishment of a digital twin system for the tire development process has further strengthened our ability to respond to car manufacturers and develop premium products.”
Going forward, Kumho Tire plans to convert the tire twin technology into a cloud system environment so that tire designers can use it consistently anytime, anywhere. Additionally, the company will continuously enhance the digital twin system by introducing vehicle ‘driving simulator’ technology linked to vehicle dynamics analysis.
[Reporter Han Changho]