Rugged Telematics Device for Off-Road Construction Machinery

The iWave rugged telematics device provided a comprehensive solution to the challenges faced in implementing telematics devices in construction machinery. The device is IP67 rated for protection against solids, dust, and water content.

The rugged telematics device supports 3 CAN interfaces to communicate with the vehicle’s internal electronic systems, capturing data related to engine performance, vehicle speed, fuel consumption, and more. Real-time data from CAN interfaces enables the customer to identify instances of vehicles being under-utilized or idling excessively and optimize routes, schedules, and usage patterns.

RS232 and RS485 interfaces are used to connect to external devices and sensors like temperature sensors or RFID readers. Data from these sensors help in detecting unauthorized usage, temperature fluctuations, or entry/exit events.

Ethernet interface offers high-speed connectivity and allows the telematics device to communicate with other systems, servers, or databases over local networks or the internet. This connectivity is leveraged for remote diagnostics, software updates, and centralized data storage and analysis. Ethernet also facilitates data exchange with backend systems that can process the collected data for more advanced analytics like assessing the vehicle’s usage patterns, identifying inefficiencies, and diagnosing maintenance issues.

Apart from ethernet, the rugged telematics device is also integrated with cellular 4G support and various other wireless connectivity options such as Wi-Fi and Bluetooth, to enable data transfer from the vehicles to the cloud platforms. This versatility allowed the construction machinery to transmit data even in remote areas with weak network coverage.

To enable vehicle-wide updates, comprehensive data logging, and remote diagnostic commands via the OTA platform, the rugged telematics device serves as a gateway into the vehicle and provides a stable connection to the cloud. The rugged telematics device downloads software updates from companies’ cloud-based servers via Wi-Fi or LTE cellular networks and installs them in vehicles. The device’s intelligent connectivity management ensured that data was buffered and transmitted when a stable connection was available, mitigating the challenges posed by intermittent connectivity.

By leveraging the Wi-Fi infrastructure within the construction site, iWave, together with their client-developed software, allows the telematics Module to store and transmit critical information to the servers each time a machine encounters a configured wireless access point. This functionality enabled the data to be reviewed on a daily basis while remaining secure on an internal network.

Furthermore, the rugged telematics device was integrated with the J1939 protocol for compatibility with heavy-duty vehicles and commercial trucks. This standard includes the digital annex (DA), which defines thousands of signals that could be used on the CAN bus, a subset of which are EV-specific signals (such as high voltage, battery state of charge, vehicle charging status, and more).

The rugged telematics device provided real-time GPS tracking, enabling the company to monitor the location and movement of each off-road vehicle. This information helped optimize the routing and allocation of resources.

The combination of reliable connectivity and real-time data access allowed fleet managers to respond promptly to any issues or emergencies, minimizing vehicle downtime and improving operational efficiency.

For more information, please contact mktg@iwavesystems.com.