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Computers can save distribution energy
Page 20
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COMPUTERS have a part to play in saving fuel in distribution, and the technology exists to do it. That was one of the messages for delegates to a conference in London last week.
B. Hume and W. Muktarsingh of Scicon Consultancy International Ltd were addressing a conference on Energy Conservation in Transport and Distribution which was organised by the Centre for Physical Distribution Management.
Against a background in which fixed routes waste 30 to 40 per cent of vehicles' capacity due largely to operators' inability to vary their routes, the speakers pointed Out that computers can introduce flexibility.
One manufacturer which delivers nationally from the Midlands found, through computerisation, that it saved one vehicle and 50,000 miles per year.
They said that computers allowed the operator to make predictions of the effects which alterations in service levels would have. For instance, one operator's reduction in service level from five to 10 days saved only two vehicles and 30,000 miles per annum and clearly was not worthwhile.
Technical problems which have prevented the automotive industry from taking advantage of microprocessors have now been overcome, and the speakers were confident that many applications exist for commercial vehicles.
The speakers believed that a microprocessor can take account of crankshaft and accelerator positions, engine temperature and manifold pressure, and air/fuel ratio to inject the correct mixture of oil and air into an engine.
Scope also exists for more information to be passed to the driver, so that he can avoid trouble spots on roads.
They suggest that information on changing traffic conditions will be passed to drivers through some sort of display unit.
But the representatives of SCI rejected earlier predictions that this should be a visual display. That would probably be too dangerous, and road safety would be served better if a speech synthesiser is used.
In concluding their paper, Mr Hume and Mr Muktarsingh brought in a note of caution. "It is true that many of the examples can be considered gimmicks, but there are some serious applications which will make a positive contribution to conserving energy.
"The impact Of the more frivolous examples should not be allowed to prevail."