Diagnostics and Maintenance in the Wireless Age
John Bendel
Technology Editor
Recent developments point clearly to wireless technology's role in diagnosing and maintaining trucks — even when they're on the road.
Perhaps the most critical development is the growing availability of inexpensive wireless data services. Major wireless providers now offer services that charge — not for each connection — but for how much data a customer sends. That has made it possible to transmit greater amounts of data more frequently at an affordable cost. As a result, fleets that once collected vehicle data only at terminal locations can now receive data from trucks on the road.
At the same time, Wi-Fi hot spots are spreading quickly across the landscape, particularly at truckstops. Based on 802.11 standards, these hot spots provide close-range communication, most often for driver access to the Internet. But trucking technology providers are no strangers to Wi-Fi, and some see great potential in all those hot spots, as you will see below.
Other developments involve new products and product upgrades.
MACK'S INFOMAX WIRELESS
Mack Trucks has introduced InfoMax Wireless, an evolutionary upgrade to DataMax, Mack's onboard computer and trip recorder.
DataMax debuted in 1996. In 1999, Mack added InfoMax — PC software to display, analyze and store DataMax information. In most cases, someone had to walk the fleet and download the data one truck at a time. That often meant one person less on the shop floor. True, some fleets have downloaded data automatically for some time, but only a handful, given the expense and hassle of setup. Now InfoMax Wireless lowers the expense and eases the hassle.
InfoMax wireless uses 802.11b standard hardware, inexpensive to buy and easy to set up. Mack's Wi-Fi base station resembles the generic four-inch rabbit ear wireless routers available at Best Buy, Circuit City and CompUSA. The Mack unit can be installed or simply placed on a desk as long as it's within range of passing trucks — say near an entry gate. (According to Mack, the system works within 1,000 feet with line of sight.)
Once a vehicle is in range, communication is quickly established and the onboard unit sends the specified data. If a download is interrupted, when a truck continues out of range for example, InfoMax starts the download from scratch the next time the truck is in range. If the driver turns off the ignition key during a transmission, InfoMax Wireless keeps sending for a set period of time, completing the transmission with negligible battery use.
The customer decides when and what data to download. Coming as it does from Mack, the InfoMax Wireless is oriented toward vehicle health and maintenance, but the system also records the same kinds of operational data as third-party onboard computers, including driver actions and — if equipped with optional GPS — truck locations and border crossings for fuel tax purposes.
This arrangement is ideal for fleets that return to a single location each day, including many private delivery fleets, LTL operations and fleets in construction, trash collection and other vocations — areas in which Mack is a familiar and popular nameplate.
Mack is also aware of those proliferating Wi-Fi hot spots — and so is SiriCOMM Inc., a technology company based in Joplin, Mo. SiriCOMM has established a proprietary network that links truckstop Wi-Fi hot spots. Soon, according to Mack, InfoMax wireless on wider-ranging trucks will be able to upload specified information at any SiriCOMM hot spot. The data will be sent to a SiriCOMM service center where it will be made available to fleet customers over the Internet — much the way mobile communications and asset-tracking providers serve customer fleets. SiriCOMM calls its technology InstaCheck.
Mack and SiriCOMM demonstrated InstaCheck at the International Truck Show last year. In June, SiriCOMM announced it will have Wi-Fi hot spots at all 255 Pilot Travel Centers. Overall, SiriCOMM says it will install 400 hot spots this year. Some will be at large company terminals, busy distribution centers and some public rest areas — anyplace where substantial numbers of trucks are likely to be.
The combination of low-cost Wi-Fi and networks like SiriCOMM's InstaCheck will make it possible for fleets to send and receive much more data from trucks than may be affordable now. However, the Mack system is for Mack trucks only. Mack would not discuss specific prices.
INTERNATIONAL'S TELEMATICS
Earlier this year at a Technology & Maintenance Council conference, International Truck and Engine previewed a system it called International Telematics. The system is expected to be available this summer — perhaps as early as this month — and possibly with a new trade name.
The International system gathers the same kinds of basic data as Mack's, but there similarities end. International's system does not look for Wi-Fi hot spots. Instead, it is always connected, at least in a manner of speaking. International Telematics will use a digital cellular connection, though at press time they hadn't announced the provider. According to International's Jeff Bannister, it will be either Verizon or Sprint.
Always-available communication enables exception reporting. Fleets can be notified whenever a particular parameter exceeds a pre-set limit. That parameter can relate to anything being measured and recorded — engine temperature, oil pressure, even the speed of the truck.
But that information doesn't travel straight to the fleet from the truck. First, it will go to an International service center. It will be relayed from there over the Internet to customers. Exception reports can be communicated over virtually any electronic device, including e-mail, Blackberry and pager.
"International Telematics includes GPS standard and will track, record and report operational information. But it's really focused on the vehicle health, understanding how the vehicle is being driven, when the vehicle should be serviced and predicting failure," Bannister told HDT. "We're looking at components — at when we think those components might fail."
Bannister insisted all the data passing through the service center belongs to the customer. Still, data from 25,000 or 100,000 vehicles will create a valuable cache of statistics on component performance. Bannister said International will use that and other company data to enrich the information it sends to customers over the Internet.
"So when the customer sees a fault code show up on our application, he doesn't have to go into a separate application to diagnose the fault code. We'll give him all those direct links. So we'll go from a fault code to exactly how you trouble-shoot and repair the vehicle."
Bannister said the company expects to add satellite capabilities to provide communication in areas where digital service is unavailable.
According to Bannister, the International system can be retrofitted and will work on any vehicle with the necessary electronic interfaces. He said the service is expected to cost less than $40 a month per vehicle. Onboard hardware will cost less than $1,000, he said.
DOSSIER ONBOARD
Late last year, the MobileAria subsidiary of Delphi Corp. released FleetOutlook, a comprehensive mobile communications and fleet management system. FleetOutlook's onboard computer is in a compact unit that includes an AM/FM radio and takes the radio's place in the dash. FleetOutlook communicates over the customer's choice of satellite or ground digital providers, automatically selecting the least expensive. FleetOutlook offers a number of optional modules.
In March, Delphi, MobileAria and their distribution partner Pana-Pacific introduced an innovative onboard maintenance module called Dossier Onboard from Arsenault Associates. Dossier Onboard provides FleetOutlook users a seamless interface with Arsenault's Dossier fleet maintenance software.
Dossier Online tracks maintenance related information from the FleetOutlook computer, including mileage and fuel consumption. Then it takes an evolutionary leap.
In the case of a serious problem — overheating, an oil pressure drop, etc. — the driver is notified with an audible alert through the radio speakers in the cab. The problem is recorded by Dossier Online along with the vehicle identification, GPS location, VMRS (Vehicle Maintenance Reporting Standards) or other code for the problem component and a brief description of the issue. That information can be sent directly to a fleet manager's pager, cell phone or handheld computer (see sidebar).
If roadside assistance is necessary, Dossier software automatically locates service providers nearest the truck and enables direct messaging between the driver and the shop, simplifying coordination. According to Arsenault, the system will soon ease the hassle of using repair companies on a C.O.D. basis.
Fuel card and financial services provider Comdata will work with Arsenault software to issue payments based on one-time-use MasterCard accounts. When a vendor completes a repair, Comdata will issue a MasterCard number that will expire after that single vendor payment. There will be no credit card or card number for anyone to abuse.
Of course, not all fault codes involve serious problems. In the case of more routine diagnostic alerts, Dossier Onboard batches the communications to be sent later, which is the least expensive way.
In both cases, though, Dossier software at the shop can take the fault code data coming from trucks and automatically generate repair orders, including all necessary parts information. Shop people don't have to fill out repair orders by hand, avoiding that opportunity for human error. Parts can be ordered ahead of time so the truck can be worked on as soon as it arrives at the appropriate shop location.
The next release of Dossier Onboard will include automated pre- and post-trip DOT inspection reporting, keeping the unit in DOT compliance. According to Arsenault, the upgrade will be free for early adopters.
Sidebar
The Wireless Shop
