# Talking Tires Podcast

**Welcome to Talking Tires**, the podcast that delves deep into the world of tires. Join us as we explore everything from the science behind manufacturing to the latest innovations in tire recycling. Our aim is to provide you with a comprehensive understanding of tires, including how they work, how to maintain them, and how to dispose of them responsibly. Whether you’re a seasoned mechanic, curious car enthusiast, or an avid recycler, Talking Tires is the perfect podcast for anyone who wants to learn about the essential component of the modern vehicle and heavy equipment. So, buckle up and join us for an informative and engaging journey into the world of tires.

**Craig Hunter**: All right, welcome to another podcast, Talking Tires. I’m your host, Craig Hunter, the president of Tire Reclaim, and I have here with me Jonathan Selby of Universes. This is a very interesting podcast, and in the introduction, you’ve heard that this podcast is about everything that has to do with tires. So, everything from recycling tires to the manufacturing to, well, in this case, digital security, safety, and the performance of cameras communicating about tires. And I’m going to let Jonathan go into all about that and road safety and potholes. We’re going to go down this rabbit hole that we’ve got here, but I want to get started by just saying welcome, Jonathan. And I guess it would be good evening to you.

**Jonathan Selby**: Actually, I’m in California at the moment, so I’m not too far away. We’re in the same time zone at least.

**Craig Hunter**: Yes, your counterparts had said, “Oh, so this is going to be at 8:00 p.m.” And I was like, “Oh, then you must be in the United Kingdom.” Okay, you’re in California, so no then. Good afternoon. I’m catching you on your lunch break.

**Jonathan Selby**: Exactly. Good afternoon. Nice to meet you. Thanks for having me, Craig.

**Craig Hunter**: You’ve had an interesting path getting to where you are now. Formula 1 engineering, aerospace, autonomy. I’m looking at my notes here leading into an AI company focused on roads. So, why don’t you tell us a little bit about your story? How did you get started, Jonathan, and maybe tie this all together with tires and Talking Tires?

**Jonathan Selby**: Sure. I’ll give it a go. I originally did a quite technical degree at university and I wanted to work in a field that would use that expertise I’d gained but had some excitement. I didn’t want to go down a particular field so I decided to look into motorsports. I managed to score a job at Formula 1 working for the Red Bull Racing Formula 1 team. My role there was to be an R&D engineer. So I was more or less tasked with two high-level objectives: either make the car go faster or make it more efficient. We worked on things like aerodynamics, gearbox enhancements, and control systems. One particular area was launch control, understanding tire traction.

I then went on to help found a drone company using small-scale surveillance drones selling systems to the UK MOD and the US DOD, focusing on situational awareness for troops. Later, I moved to Sweden to develop Universes, a company focused on using cameras to give perception to mobile platforms.

**Craig Hunter**: So bringing it back to tires, you met with Pirelli Tires and their cyber tire technology. How does that collaboration work?

**Jonathan Selby**: We met with Pirelli, who was working on a connected tire technology called cyber tire. It integrates sensors within the tire to give unique information about the contact patch and tire performance. They were approaching similar markets as us, using sensors from tires to provide data for road management and automotive improvements. We realized that a tire combined with a camera could offer a comprehensive solution, leading to Pirelli investing in Universes.

**Craig Hunter**: Can you walk us through 3D AI in plain language?

**Jonathan Selby**: Sure. 3D AI is our core computer vision library. It solves three main problems for autonomous vehicles: understanding the vehicle’s position and orientation, mapping the world in 3D, and applying AI to interpret the structures around it. This allows vehicles to navigate with a better semantic understanding of the environment, handing off data for other autonomous operations.

**Craig Hunter**: And the challenges with data collection?

**Jonathan Selby**: A major challenge is calibration for multi-camera systems. Maintaining accurate calibration is critical and Universes developed algorithms for dynamic calibration in real-time, ensuring safety and accuracy even after the vehicle is deployed.

**Craig Hunter**: Touching on the Pirelli partnership again, does that enhance the cyber tire platform?

**Jonathan Selby**: We’re combining sensor data from both tires and cameras to enhance automotive and road management solutions. These sensors collectively improve traction control and road monitoring, providing accurate data to authorities for timely interventions, potentially resulting in cost savings and enhanced road safety.

**Craig Hunter**: How do you see AI-powered road intelligence intersecting with the circular economy?

**Jonathan Selby**: By maintaining road conditions, we help reduce rolling resistance, potentially lowering emissions and enhancing sustainable practices. Aligning with circular economy goals, AI can aid in road monitoring efficiency and resource use.

**Craig Hunter**: Any last thoughts or anything I missed?

**Jonathan Selby**: Just to highlight digital security, it’s important that all data we collect is processed carefully. Images are anonymized before being shared to protect privacy, ensuring we manage sensitive information responsibly.

**Craig Hunter**: Thanks for joining us, Jonathan. This has been incredibly informative for our listeners involved in tire recycling and sustainable practices. Good luck with your future ventures!

**Jonathan Selby**: Thank you, Craig. It was a pleasure to be here and talk about this exciting intersection of technology and tires.