Testing Promata TPMS Sensors with Redback Racing
Promata is a global manufacturer of aftermarket TPMS solutions for 4WDs, caravans, trucks, and road trains, with over 15 years in the Australian market and strong partnerships with Supercheap Auto, Repco, and GPC Asia Pacific. Their award-winning Mata 1 system has earned recognition from CHOICE, and in 2025 they partnered with UNSW Redback Racing to explore its performance in motorsport conditions.
Partnership Introduction
Following the manufacturing of RB25, our 2025 hybrid, electric and autonomous challenger, Promata supplied Redback Racing with its Mata 1 Tyre Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS) Sensor Set, including four internal tyre pressure and temperature sensors, for on-car evaluation.
Promata’s contribution offered the team an opportunity to assess how the Mata 1 system performed in a Formula SAE environment where fast data acquisition, packaging constraints and live usability are critical. Because Formula SAE vehicles mirror many of the demands of high-performance, lightweight electric vehicle designs, RB25 provided an ideal platform for the practical evaluation of Promata’s sensors in a demanding and advanced electric vehicle application. Tested during skidpan sessions, the sensors provided a useful basis for on-car evaluation, helping the team assess both the strengths of the system and the challenges of integrating it into the highly specific operating environment of an electric Formula SAE vehicle. Promata’s contribution has not only benefited the team’s vehicle efficiency development process, but also enabled Promata to gain meaningful insight into how its technology performs in a demanding and innovation-driven vehicle environment.
On-Track Evaluation
The Mata 1 sensors were trialled on the vehicle during track days as part of our testing to assess and monitor RB25’s tyre pressure and temperature management capabilities. In the initial phase of testing, the sensors were fitted only to the front two wheels, as the front rim configuration at the time incorporated sealing plates that made installation more accessible without full tyre dismounting.
During skidpan running, the monitor was positioned trackside under cover so that tyre pressure and temperature behaviour could be observed as the car completed runs. Early testing showed that the system was capable of returning useful readings, although the speed at which the data was retrieved was limited and temperature changes appeared gradually. As testing progressed, it became apparent that maintaining a consistent connection between the sensors and monitor was a key consideration in this setup, particularly where the distance to the monitor varied dependent on the position of the sensors in the vehicle on the track. It was found that once connection was lost, the display retained the last transmitted values, such that to re-establish live readings, the monitor and sensors had to be brought back into close proximity once more. To address the proximity issue, the the team explored temporary methods of mounting the monitor to the car itself, including simple trackside fixes such as zip tie.
Observations
A key strength of the Mata 1 system was the ease of initial setup. The sensors paired immediately out of the box and began reporting data once pressure was detected, allowing the team to integrate them into testing with minimal preparation. Their operation was also not dependent on the valve stem remaining connected, which gave the system a degree of flexibility that proved useful in our application, particularly given the packaging constraints of RB25. Due to our rim geometries and the relatively small 1.5” tyre sidewall, the sensors could not be mounted via the valve stem in the intended configuration without creating clearance issues. In addition, the rigid aluminium valve stems were not well suited to the rear rims, where the valve stem hole was positioned on a curve. Even so, because the stems are not permanently attached or essential to sensor operation, the overall form factor still allowed some flexibility in how the sensors could be accommodated within the Formula SAE rules and compact packaging requirements.
Another practical benefit was the solar charging capability. Across testing, the sensors did not require manual charging and were kept operational simply through exposure to sunlight, which made them convenient to deploy and reduced the amount of maintenance required between uses.
Concluding Thoughts
