UK trials for 'black box'
Page 19
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by Alan Bunting Railfreight Distribution's novel Detroit Diesel-powered Foden tractor, tested by CM in 1991, is being used as a test-bed for a new engine and vehicle information system, Data Hub.
It has been developed by Cambridge-based Pi Research, known for its work on racing car engine management systems.
Data Hub can provide vital failure analysis information as well as more routine operating data. It has just been launched on Detroit Diesel-powered trucks in North America where it is being promoted as an equivalent to an aircraft's "Black Box" flight recorder.
On Railfreight's Foden the data logger is mounted behind the dash panel. It augments the diagnostic and data recording functions of the tractor engine's DDEC II control module: Pi designed the software for both DDECII and DDEC Ill systems.
Pi's Murray Greenman says Data Hub could be applied to rival electronic engines like Cummins Celect models.
Although a contractual arrangement with Detroit Diesel makes that unlikely, DD's links with Mercedes-Benz could open the way for Data Hub to be used on the electronically controlled Mercedes Euro2 engines (see page 19).
The Bosch electronic fuel system functions are comparable with DDEC and Cummins CeIect.
Data Hub has a 288 kilobyte memory and maintains a rolling record of engine operations through the system's sensors.
Routine operations are recorded along with abnormalities such as a sudden rise in coolant temperature or loss of oil pressure. When the memory is full, the oldest information is automatically erased. If a problem is detected, the preceding two minutes of data recording are held for later analysis.
The Pi research team, headed by Greenman, is working on different ways of downloading or retrieving the data, using the Railfreight installation as a guinea pig.
A diagnostic reader. like Cummins Road Relay, or a suitably programmed lap top computer can be plugged into the data logger. Alternatively, the information can be downloaded by direct connection to the operator's depot computer.
Analysis software need not be supplied by Pi Research, says Greenman. Existing maintenance and repair software can be tailored to handle the Data Hub information.
Information could also be transmitted from a truck on the move via a modem and cellular phone link which would enable information to be analysed back at base immediately a fault has developed.
Similarly, it could be transmitted via satellite, but this is expensive.
Pi sees its Data Hub equipment being attractive to truck rental companies employing agency drivers not assigned to one particular vehicle. Greenman also believes Data Hub provides the basis for an onboard security system.