ZF LAUNCHES OPENMATICS TELEMATICS SOLUTIONS FOR BUSES
Published at 20.08.2010 in Components, Technology
The strategic alliance between ZF and Intel is now embarking on a different path with Openmatics. The open, powerful system will meet all requirements for telematics services and is to further standardize the market in the future. The system platform Openmatics consists of a hardware box and, in its core, the powerful Intel Atom processor. In terms of features and interfaces, the box is therefore ready to fulfill all present and many future telematics services for city buses - including multimedia applications.
It sends the data to a web portal in real time via 3G, GPRS, and WLAN.Planning of transmission servicing and diagnosis can take place via Openmatics if a city bus has a ZF transmission on board - previously, ZF had a system of its own for this purpose.
Openmatics is a manufacturer-independent, open platform for telematic applications, with upgradeable hardware developed in cooperation with Intel Corp. The target is integrating and standardizing telematics, initially for buses. The platform can be used in city buses from all manufacturers. The system, made up of an on-board unit for the vehicles and a web-based software portal for evaluation purposes, will probably be available as from 2011.
The open structure of Openmatics provides for several advantages: the system can integrate future, third-party software developments which make the system even more versatile and attractive for its users. Moreover, Openmatics takes a major step towards standardizing and integrating several individual telematics solutions.
Software applications on the web portal are in charge of the specific evaluation and processing of data. Depending on the application, different authorized target user groups can access these results: from the Service technician who receives information about possible malfunctions in the vehicle's technology up to the fleet manager who can monitor the expected arrival times of his vehicles.
After concluding the development in 2010, the schedule provides for prototype and preliminary tests at key customers' as well as the set-up of the web portal. As from 2011, an AppStore will be set up, where customers can order the range offered by third parties. Production start-up is scheduled for the beginning of 2011.
