Tesla CEO Elon Musk has said the Cybertruck may start initial production this summer, so it is no surprise to see Tesla testing the Cybertruck with what appears to be wheel calibrating equipment.
This was hinted at in a recent sighting of the Tesla Cybertruck in Fremont, CA. Images showed the vehicle equipped with what appeared to be a series of sensors. Its wheels were also particularly eye-catching.
As noted by members of the Cybertruck Owners Forum, mounted on the steel wheels were what appear to be wheel force transducers, designed to aid in the evaluation and advancement of complete vehicle chassis and their components. They are used in a wide range of vehicles, from sedans, SUVs and commercial vehicles to race cars and industrial vehicles. When in use, wheel force transducers typically take the place of a regular wheel, measuring the forces and moments that act upon the tire’s contact patch.
The Tesla Cybertruck has been described by executives as the company’s masterpiece for now. It is expected to adopt numerous features, including rear-wheel steering. Such features may require more calibrating work if they are to be used with systems such as Autopilot and FSD.
This may not be the first time a Cybertruck prototype with apparent wheel force transducers has been spotted in the wild. Last August, a battle-weary Cybertruck unit was photographed being offloaded from a transport truck. Similar to the Cybertruck in the recent sighting, the vehicle was outfitted with numerous sensors then. It was also equipped with wheels that looked very similar to those in the recent prototype.
Abby Andrews