June/July 2007

An automatically-activated asset monitoring device for applications such as trailer tracking has been added to the range of products offered by Minorplanet, the telematics specialist.

The AEM5800 unit incorporates a motion sensor, an internal battery and a charging circuit, all of which are contained in a waterproof enclosure that is securely fixed to the trailer or asset. There is also GPS facility for capturing location and a built-in GPRS module for data transfer.

Positional data is logged by the unit's built-in tracking system, and is transmitted via GPRS communication to Minorplanet's servers. From here it is delivered to the operator over the Internet, using the same reporting system as the company's VMIgreenlight hosted tracking system.

The company claims that unlike tracking devices that only report a few positions per day, the AEM5800 can report the exact position of the trailer every minute. Information is 'drip-fed' into VMIgreenlight, and can be replayed on screen or output as a comprehensive report.

The battery recharges whenever the trailer is correctly connected to a tractor unit, but will continue to track for up to 36 hours when moving, or up to 16 days if left standing when disconnected.