Electronics & Connectivity - September 5, 2012 - 22

Data collection
made easy
amount of effort. Many fleet owners view integrating telematics into their organization as a major challenge. It often takes a while for software investments to recoup their cost, but well-planned integration of telematics tools often yields beneficial results, proponents note. “At some point, they have to take it on faith that an investment in new software will yield positive results to pay back the cost of the solution and the time investment many times over,” Ransom said. “For organizations battered by the past four years, and often understaffed and overworked, this prospect can be daunting.” Vehicle makers are doing what they can to lessen the cost of installation. Wiring harnesses for equipment that taps into the many CAN buses on a vehicle are complex. It’s typically less expensive for OEMs to make those connections during initial manufacturing than to have third parties come in and add wiring harnesses to a vehicle that has finished its time on the production line. “We want to deliver trucks that are prewired so all owners have to do is add their hardware and without going to a third party. Adding wiring can cost several thousand dollars. The cabling is fairly complex,” said Matt Cullum, Electrical Engineering Manager at Peterbilt.

Will DOT force trucks to talk?
While fleet owners determine if and how to implement telematics links, the U.S. government is working with many in transportation to determine the fate of another wireless communication technology. After roughly a decade of research into dedicated short range communications (DSRC), U.S. government agencies are preparing to decide whether to mandate adoption. DSRC will let vehicles talk to each other and to roadside towers. In 2014, the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) is scheduled to decide whether to mandate DSRC in heavy vehicles. That decision will follow a 2013 pronouncement for passenger cars. When vehicles can tell each other that they are braking and towers can alert drivers that a vehicle is emerging from a hidden intersection, safety can be improved. Proponents tout additional benefits. “With connected-vehicle technology, we’re trying to prevent crashes,” said Mike Schagrin, Connected Vehicle Safety Program Manager for U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT). “In the area of mobility, we’re trying to improve traffic flow as well as reduce emissions.” Those in trucking feel it could bring additional benefits. When trucks know vehicles in front of them are stopping,

Telematics systems from Peterbilt tap into vehicle networks to provide data that helps drivers improve efficiency.

September 5, 2012

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Electronics & Connectivity - September 5, 2012

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