Feb-March 2003

A new on-board computer designed for easy integration into vehicle dashboards has been launched by leading Finnish-based specialist Aplicom. The DT 1000 slots into a standard DIN car radio aperture, although it can also be mounted separately.

In a bid to keep the installation compact yet accessible, Aplicom has designed the unit so that its entire user interface can be displayed on a "virtual" basis on its built-in back-lit monochrome graphical display. However, the system also supports a separate "real" keyboard, as well as up to two external display units.

The computer is built round a 24MHz ARM processor, and has 1Mb of battery-backed RAM plus 4MB of Flash EPROM memory. It also supports card-based Flash SRAM (3 Mb supplied).

The operating system is a proprietary one called OS95A, for which Aplicom provides its own software development kit. This includes library functions for Internet connectivity and for integration with on-board systems using the FMS-standard.

The computer is intended to fulfil a whole range of requirements, from monitoring on-board functions (CANbus support is provided) to vehicle tracking. An integral GPS module is offered as an option, and GPRS support can also be built in. The system supports Aplicom's own Aplicom Fleet AVL application.