Introduction

Efficient, safe and secure transportation networks are the foundation of all modern cities’ development and substantiality. The most sought-after intelligent solutions are those that optimize transportation efficiency, improve traffic safety and minimize costs; and such demand has in recent years given rise to the R&D and implementation of ITS, short for Intelligent Transportation Systems.

ITS refers to the deployment of smart and advanced industrial grade computers in every part of an inter-connected transportation system; such deployment enables two way communications, in real-time, between control centers, moving vehicles and traffic monitoring devices, not only improving security for both public and commercial transportation networks, but also enhancing transportation efficiency, which in turn optimizes energy consumption and curtails greenhouse effect.

Lanner’s ITS Solutions

Lanner's Internet of Things Business Unit is consisted of three product divisions, and they are the Intelligent Transportation Solution Division, the Embedded Computing Division and the Industrial Communication Division. Each division offers its unique selection of embedded hardware solutions for a full range of sectors and vertical applications.

Appliances from the Intelligent Transportation Solution Division are positioned for meeting today’s ITS demands and applications such as traffic monitoring for public transits, fleet management and infotainment control systems

Lanner’s ITS hardware solutions are ideal for:


1. Intelligent Public Transit Systems

ITS for public transits such as buses and trains aims to provide efficiency and safety for operators, drivers and passengers. Mobile transit surveillance systems, which are consisted of a network of industrial computers and cameras, are usually installed in moving vehicles for activity monitoring and HD video streaming. Such mobile surveillance systems records and documents all in-vehicle activities while the vehicles are on the road, facilitating crime prevention and, when necessary, enabling prompt response.

ITS for public transits also aims to improve passengers’ overall experience by providing useful information such as routes and schedules. With built-in GPS and cellular connectivity, ITS-capable in-vehicle computers allow location tracking and deliver all information collected to control centers for ETA calculation and broadcast via digital signage bulletin boards at train terminals/bus stops and mobile devices.

These in-vehicle computers can also be set up either as infotainment servers, offering passengers latest news, weather, entertainment and internet access, or as gateways for connecting devices and sensors for automating ignition control, theft-prevention alarms, two-way radio communication, global positioning and notifications for roadside hazards and intended destinations.

2. Intelligent Traffic Control and Monitoring System

Intelligent traffic control systems relay real-time traffic information to and from operation managers and drivers. With appropriate devices and sensors connected and installed along the highway or on sign gantries, traffic conditions and information can be monitored and gathered in real-time, which is then delivered to the control centers for analysis. Upon receiving such data, the operating managers are then able to efficiently manage the traffic flow by adjusting traffic lights and access gateways; drivers, on the other hand, are able to calculate ETA or avoid traffic jams upon being notified of congestions, accidents, unfavorable weather conditions and other traffic-related information.

In addition to intelligent traffic control, vehicle surveillance computer is another ITS application and Electronic Toll Collection (ETC) is one such implementation. ETC combines high-speed computing power, high-capacity IP network and the latest in image recognition/analyzing technologies for toll collection by scanning driver information via ID stickers and by retrieving accurate images of vehicle license plate numbers. Automatic toll collection reduces costly overhead required by manual toll collection and speeds up collection process, resulting in fewer traffic bottlenecks.

Furthermore, such traffic surveillance systems also facilitates automatic road enforcement for capturing real-time images and license plate numbers of those in traffic violations, and delivers instantaneous reports to the data centers for automatic ticketing.

3. Intelligent Fleet Management

ITS is instrumental in improving commercial transportation efficiency as well. With built-in 3G connectivity and GPS capability, intelligent fleet management system enables two-way communications between moving fleets and the operation centers. Armed with real-time traffic information, drivers can now plan ahead, opting for routes with no or less severe congestion, therefore reducing both time spent and fuel consumed. Fleet managers, on the other hand, are kept abreast of fleet locations and ETAs, therefore facilitating vehicle dispatching, cargo tracking and mileage reporting.

Finally, fleet management systems simplify labor and asset management. vehicle gateway, when connected to vehicle ECUs, TPMS and other sensors, enable control centers to keep an eye out for everything from engine activity, vehicle temperature, tire pressure, cargo status to driving behavior and hours of service.