https://networks.imdea.org/your-cars-tire-sensors-could-be-used-to-track-you/ Engineering challenge: implement a low-energy protocol for a radio transmitter that needs to operate for years on a coin cell battery to send a signal through several layers of steel, plastic, rubber, to a receiver without leaking trackable device IDs. How would you do it?
@earthshine I wouldn't. I'd pass the signal from wires in the spinning sensor through rings on the rotor or rim to wires fixed to the frame in order to reach the main computer.
@arielmt Also that would require modifications to the wheel that would effectively mean that you'd only be able to use wheels made for that specific car. I'm not too keen on the idea.
@earthshine Those are the problems I would focus on engineering a workable solution to, instead of trying to retrofit the need for decent wifi security, removal of functional identity at a distance, and with no need for dealer, mechanic, or user configuration.
@earthshine A contactless alternative is a set of fixed NFC antennas near the hub and a rotating NFC antenna on the sensor that stays just close enough to talk to at least one of the fixed antennas.
@arielmt It's definitely not an easy solve, though. The fact that it needs to be not only sealed off in an air tight vessel, but withstand crazy amounts of vibration and centripital forces, so the mechanical and material engineering needed is non trivial, and chance of failure with rising complexity is high.
@earthshine I agree. Blasting a tracking number loud enough for an Australian road train's computer to pick up the last trailer axle is certainly next-quarter cheaper, but not a real solution.
@arielmt That's gonna wear out super fast.