Vetronix Corp. to Introduce Revolutionary Wireless In-Vehicle Fleet Monitoring System
19 July 1999
Vetronix Corp. to Introduce Revolutionary Wireless In-Vehicle Fleet Monitoring System
SANTA BARBARA, Calif.--July 16, 1999--REVIEW and Unicenter TNG(R) Fleet Management SystemTM capabilities
at CA World 1999
Vetronix Corp., a leader in the automotive service equipment industry, Friday announced its plans to introduce REVIEW, its wireless in-vehicle monitoring system for fleet management applications, July 18-23 at CA World 1999, CA's annual, global business software conference in New Orleans.
Vetronix has been chosen by Computer Associates International Inc. (CA) as its initial partner in the development of Unicenter TNG Fleet Management System, a comprehensive solution for managing large vehicle fleets to help improve operating efficiency and create new revenue opportunities for fleet owners.
The REVIEW system (Remotely Enabled Vehicle Information Exchanged Wirelessly) resides in the vehicle and enables Unicenter TNG Fleet Management System users to receive data directly from the individual vehicle via wireless links. Unlike other in-vehicle systems that offer only GPS data, the Vetronix REVIEW module also retrieves information directly from the vehicle's on-board computers.
In addition to GPS, REVIEW retrieves and transmits data such as vehicle speed, engine speed, odometer value, fuel levels, engine RPM, diagnostic trouble codes, door lock/unlock controls and airbag deployment. By connecting to the computer bus instead of the individual sensors, the REVIEW module is easily installed and seamlessly integrated into the vehicle's on-board computer systems.
REVIEW will be presented together with Unicenter TNG Fleet Management System at CA World 1999 as part of two demonstrations: in a Ford Mustang traveling the streets of New Orleans, and in a New Orleans police cruiser located in CA's World Resource Center Exhibit. The Mustang system will transmit onboard vehicle data remotely via PageNet back to the Unicenter TNG Fleet Management System workstation located on the show floor.
The demonstration will allow show attendees to view how the system uses wirelessly accessed, real-time vehicle data such as vehicle speed, engine speed, odometer value, fuel levels and other vehicle operating parameters for fleet management functions.
REVIEW will also be installed in the police cruiser, and will be connected to both the engine control module and other outputs, such as the emergency light bar, headlights and door lock/unlock systems. The demonstration will show how the cruiser's onboard vehicle data can be accessed from the Unicenter TNG Fleet Management System workstation, as well as how the system can be used to control outputs such as door locks and lights.
"The combined expertise of Vetronix and Computer Associates, along with the rapid advancements in wireless and vehicle electronics technologies, enables the development of valuable fleet management solutions based on real-time vehicle data," said Jim Zaleski, president of Vetronix. "Since so many technical innovations have been introduced at CA World through the years, we believe it is an appropriate venue for demonstrating such leading-edge fleet management technology."
"Vetronix's extensive experience with serial data interfaces to on-board vehicle systems, as well as its established relationships in the automotive industry, will play an important role in our partnership and in the development of the Unicenter TNG Fleet Management System," said JP Corriveau, CA Senior Vice President of Advanced Technology. "We are very pleased to be working with Vetronix to bring this technology to the fleet management arena."
By having direct access to these vehicle data parameters, Unicenter TNG Fleet Management System customers will be able to perform a variety of functions that increase operating efficiency, improve driver productivity and lower costs. Customers will now have the ability to eliminate manual vehicle checks, forecast vehicle maintenance and service needs, easily and accurately retrieve fleet cost analysis data, as well as monitor vehicle speed and throttle position for improved liability management.
Fleet managers will also have more control over their fleets directly from the management console. The manager will be able to control output connections such as door locks from a central location, as well as locate and "strand" a stolen vehicle for easy recovery. This is achieved by initiating a horn-honking and light-flashing sequence, followed by a starter interrupt function once the vehicle is parked.
Unicenter TNG Fleet Management Systems and Vetronix REVIEW will be demonstrated at CA World 1999 Conference and Exposition, July 18-23, New Orleans, Ernest N. Morial Convention Center, World Resource Center (WRC) Booth No. EMG07. For more information visit http://www.caworld.com.
Vetronix, a privately held company with headquarters in Santa Barbara, was founded in 1984. Vetronix is an industry leader in the field of automotive service equipment, for both the OEM-affiliated and aftermarket segments of the industry.
Through cooperative development relationships with such automotive OEMs as General Motors, Adam Opel, Honda, Toyota, Nissan, Isuzu, Suzuki and Kia, Vetronix testers and diagnostic software dominate the market. More than 40 percent of all new vehicles produced worldwide are serviced at the dealership level with technology designed and developed by Vetronix Corp. Vetronix created its In-Vehicle Products business unit in 1997.
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