April/May 2003

What is being promoted as a new-generation on-board computer has been announced by Belgian-based telematics specialist Acunia. Its latest CarCube system can run Windows CE for Automotive, Linux or QNX operating systems, and is built round an ARM-based Intel Xscale 80200T processor.

The company says it also carries all the peripheral features needed in order to provide "an end-to-end information, entertainment and commercial vehicle fleet management system." The underlying technology is said to combine openness and modularity, and to be able to manage complex integration projects with back-office and business processes.

Acunia is encouraging systems integrators or software vendors to develop applications for the device in Java, .NET or native code, and says the system is easy to integrate with additional communication devices such as wireless network cards or Bluetooth, and can be used in conjunction with an existing GPRS device.

Acunia supplies both hardware and software, and is involved with partners in various international telematics initiatives, including an EU-funded project called 3GT (Third Generation Telematics), which is coordinated by ERTICO. This also involves BMW, Robert Bosch, Fiat Center Research, Ericsson, Gatespace, Mizar Mediaservice, Opel, Peugeot, TNO, Vodafone Passo, Volvo, Webraska and Wireless Car.

 

In a separate development, Acunia has just chosen Webraska to provide a new Java-based version of its IbDN (Internet-based Distributed Navigation) system, which allows updateable turn-by-turn navigation to be delivered remotely to drivers on the move. This conforms to the latest Open Services Gateway initiative (OSGi) standard, which aims to accelerate take-up of on-board systems by using open standards.

The Java version of IbDN dovetails well with Acunia's own Open Telematics Framework (OTF), a Java-based architecture for telematics devices. The combined product currently features in trials by General Motors aimed at developing "next-generation terminals".