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4 February, 2012 |
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Mark Group fits tracking in 500 installation vehicles
 This major project will use two Ctrack products – the server-and Ctrack MaXx and web-based Ctrack Online – to support multiple users across 14 sites, including Mark Group’s head office in Leicester. The company says it will provide a better understanding of the field service operation and its performance in relation to overall business objectives. For instance, regional managers will be able to manage their local installation teams more effectively by knowing the exact location and status of mobile resources in real time. Mark also plans to use Ctrack system’s "intelligent dashboard" system to identify under-performance such as speeding, harsh braking, over-revving, excessive idling and route deviations. According to Logistics director Ross James: "This … will enable us not only to improve our operational performance, but also to promote road safety and environmental responsibility." 
Major features in latest issue: see links at column head, PLUS: Truck makers’ telematics: make by make rundown The power of sharing – seeing the big picture TomTom ProTruck 9150 Truck driver safety information app starts trials
An international driver security system accessed by a mobile phone application has gone into trials with a range of major truck operators.
Despite strange and possibly misleading name, the North Sea Freight Intelligent Transport Solutions system (previewed in m.logistics issue 50) is not about shipping, but about truck and driver safety and security on the road. NS FRITS is delivered via an "app" which currently runs on Android smartphones or as a tablet or desktop application. Its wide-ranging ambitions include keeping drivers safe, reducing the threat of crime and supporting economic growth. Support grows for 3iS telematics integration concept
New features are thought to be in the pipeline for the 3iS Fleetvision open third-party logistics integration system for telematics users. 3iS is a system developed by Isotrak, the telematics and fleet management specialist, to enable operators to exchange telematics data even when using different proprietary systems. The company makes a strong feature of the fact that it is supplier-agnostic, and does not require any Isotrak components in order to work. A key application is to enable shippers to consolidate data from third-party logistics companies, even if they use a variety of different telematics systems. At a forum in November chaired by Stewart Oades, Freight Transport Association president and independent 3iS FleetVision Steering Group Chairman, users such as ASDA, Pepsico, M&S and Morrisons discussed possible new features for the system. The system uses a GPS management module that is said to accept data feeds from a wide range of GPS hardware. It also interfaces with external transport management systems such as those from Paragon Software Systems, Ortec and Enterprise Software.
The UK Government should renew its financial support for traffic information systems that could reduce congestion. This is one of the key recommendations of a report entitled Out of the jam: reducing congestion on our roads from the Transport Select Committee. The report also urges Government and highway authorities to work more closely together, and bemoans the cessation of funding for the ITS Toolkit. This is a set of recommendations from the Department of Transport regarding the use of intelligent transport systems (ITS) to improve economy, safety, accessibility and environmental impact of transport activity. "In the absence of an up-to-date ITS Toolkit," the writers warn, "best practice is likely to be lost, and local authorities will be less likely to benefit from Intelligent Traffic Management schemes in helping to tackle congestion." The Freight Transport Association, which gave evidence to the committee, has welcomed the report. According to Malcolm Bingham, head of road network management policy: "While gaps in knowledge on the strategic road network are mercifully few, there are gaping holes in local authority areas where operators also struggle to get the information they urgently need."
A not-for-profit venture called the International Traffic Foundation has been launched by TomTom, the world-leading navigation and location specialist. It aims to fund research into traffic congestion and potential remedies. TomTom says this is the first organisation of its kind in the world. The foundation will nurture talent in the field of traffic management, TomTom says, funding PhD and post-doctorate research, publishing research papers and hosting a number of traffic-related events. Projects earmarked for 2012 include engineering models for traffic management, vehicle-to-vehicle or vehicle-to-server communication, and the physics of transport and traffic. Toughpad marks Panasonic’s entry into Android tablet market
In a move reflecting the growing popularity of both tablet computers and Google’s Android operating system, Panasonic has been developing an Android-based ruggedised tablet range, and has now launched the first model. The Toughpad FZ-A1, a 10in model, targets a range of demanding outdoor operations in areas such as aviation, construction, field service and public safety. It is due to be joined by a 7in unit some time in 2012. The unit features a dual-core Marvell processor rated at 1.2BHz, which is matched to 1GB of SDRAM. There is 16GB of storage capacity, with the option of 32GB on Micro SD card. The display is a high brightness, 10.1in XGA, capacitive multi-touch, daylight-viewable screen with an anti-glare coating. This allows standard user touch-screen interaction via the Android 3.2 operating system. Honeywell claims world first for colour scanner
Honeywell has launched a colour digital scanner that it claims is the first of its kind in the market. The Xenon 1900 doesn’t look especially different from classic pistol-grip units of today, but because it can colour barcodes such as a red bar code on a white background, Honeywell reckons it will save users from the need to use multiple image capture and storage devices. Particular appeal is seen in applications such as healthcare where identity codes need to be read, and for taking colour images for improved wound management and visual identification of patients without a wristband. The Xenon 1900 uses a variety of technologies, including Honeywell’s own Adaptus Imaging Technology 6.0 and ColorFusion Technology, and says these also provide much improved reading performance on hard-to-read barcodes such as those on mobile device screens. The system is also available in a cordless version, the Xenon 1902 Color, and both models are available with disinfectant-ready housing for healthcare professionals, underlining the initial focus on this market |
