Nexen enhances tyre inspection with AI

Nexen Tire has announced the development and implementation of its AI-based automated tyre product inspection system.

Claimed as the first instance in the tyre industry, the system has been developed in a platform format, allowing easy application to new factories or equipment.

With the introduction of this automated product inspection system, Nexen Tire, which has been expanding AI applications in the tyre development process, has now extended the scope of AI utilisation to manufacturing processes.

Due to the nature of tyres, which must ensure driver safety even in extreme driving conditions, only products that pass hundreds of tests during the post-production inspection process are sold.

Therefore, manufacturers devote utmost efforts to inspection processes in order to detect even minor defects that could prevent defective products from reaching the market.

Nexen Tire states that its AI-based automated product inspection system is applied to non-destructive inspection equipment using machine vision technology (Machine Vision, a technology that recognises and analyses visual information through cameras).

This includes ‘X-ray inspection equipment’ for detecting structural defects and ‘laser interferometry inspection equipment (Shearography)’ for detecting air bubbles. The AI assists in interpreting inspection images, which previously relied on human visual assessment.

According to Nexen Tire, the system has achieved a defect detection reproducibility rate of up to 99.96 per cent. It detects minute defects that human inspectors might overlook, thereby contributing to enhancing the quality of finished products.