Nexen Tire applies to patent AI, 3D tire printing technology

A tire mold created by Nexen Tire using its proprietary 3D printing technology. [Courtesy of Nexen Tire]

Nexen Tire is taking the next step for its eXplainable AI (XAI) technology by applying to patent it both in South Korean and overseas.

The company announced on Wednesday that it is revolutionizing the tire development process by leveraging artificial intelligence (AI) and 3D printing. Tire development traditionally involved designing the structure and pattern, producing a mold, creating a prototype, and then attaching it to a vehicle for performance verification before final approval. However, Nexen Tire is simplifying this process with the XAI and 3D printing.

XAI is an AI technology that helps understand and analyze the reasons and processes behind the results generated by machine learning algorithms. While traditional AI functioned as a “smart calculator” that predicted results based on input values, XAI goes a step further by suggesting optimal designs based on desired performance attributes such as structure and stiffness. Using this, Nexen Tire creates virtual tire models and evaluates their performance in a simulated environment.

Once a model passes the virtual development stage, a prototype is produced for physical testing. Creating a prototype requires a mold, which is essential for manufacturing tires. Nexen Tire leverages 3D printing to produce molds, enabling the simultaneous production of prototypes in assorted designs and specifications. The 3D printing mold manufacturing technology excels in creating complex patterns and fine kerfs.