When it comes to fleet management, IoT can help operators gain situational awareness and streamline operations through data collected by a variety of sensors that are connected via advanced wireless technologies such as Wi-Fi and cellular.
The Internet of Things (IoT) has become a huge phenomenon with various applications including security, home automation, and production. Now, IoT is also seen in fleet management, enabling vehicles to do more than just transmitting their geographic position. With Gartner estimating 20.8 billion devices to be connected to the Internet by 2020, IoT fleet management applications are expected to be even more diverse and useful.
Fleet management is a common practice among entities that have a large number of vehicles in the field, for example logistics operators, police, and public transit authorities who share a common objective: to ensure the driver’s safety, track goods, and make sure drivers arrive at their destination on time using the most efficient route. In this way, IoT can come in handy, helping operators gain situational awareness and streamline operations through data collected by a variety of sensors that are connected via advanced wireless technologies such as Wi-Fi and cellular.
Generally, data transmitted from the vehicles is divided into two categories. The first category includes data that needs to be more precise, for example engine status and the driver’s behavior or physical condition. Data in the second category, meanwhile, can be more general, such as what goods need to be transported when. Sensors may include fuel meters, cameras, temperature sensor, and tire pressure. Data can be transmitted to the backend over a wireless local area network (WLAN, IEEE 802.11 b/g/n), an HSPA+ network (3.5G), or an LTE network (4G).
With IoT, control centers can see their operations become more efficient and effective. For logistics operators, for example, if an item becomes damaged while on the road, a new one can immediately be replaced. This will eliminate delays and reduce paperwork. For organizations with more advanced mobile surveillance technology, they can store the captured video or transmit it back to the control center. Police, for example, can use this video to gather evidence or substantiate testimonies after an event.
For drivers, an industrial-grade computer is a necessary piece of equipment to receive and transmit data. The industrial tablet by Adlink supports all the aforementioned wireless protocols as well as high-frequency 13.56MHz NFC RFID for data capture. Besides, the tablet has an IP rating of 65 and drop resistance of 1.2 meters, making it less vulnerable to damage upon impact.
Product Adopted:Transportation