Some great ways to keep track of delivery and fleet vehicles and monitor data are presented by Sensium.
The Auckland and Brisbane based group has what it considers a world first with a tracking system that has only really come into its own during the past few months, as new technology has come to hand.
It’s seeing the future of vehicle telemetry and the internet of things (IoT) with ARKit and Mapbox.
Augmented reality (AR) includes computer imagery blended into a real-life environment like computer game experiences.
Sensium chief executive officer Jeremy McLean gave a demonstration of how the three-dimensional mapping app works, tracking vehicles with their payloads in real-time.
This fascinating technology can superimpose a virtual rendered 3-D map with all cityscape details on a flat surface like a table, so that viewers can see exactly where the vehicles are in a lifelike environment.
Using a virtual floating “crate” like out of the game Crash Bandicoot (except this crate doesn’t explode), McLean showed the location of different pick-ups and drop-offs.
“We didn’t intend on this being a product map with all the vehicles looked at on an empty table (coffee cups, food and brochures can still be kept on the real table), but it’s a new way of seeing a lot of data at a glance,” McLean says.
He says special goggles will soon be used instead.
The Platform Connect system by GPSengine and Sensium will in time even show traffic congestion, landmarks and other factors, including the vehicle’s speed.
In fact, it may do away with the need for driver log books and can improve the safety of vehicles and employees. Operating costs can be reduced, productivity increased, queries quickly and accurately resolved and more.
McLean says the methods could change the way PCs are used. “Computer monitors could be gone in the next few years, especially when you are able to visualise data via the use of enabled glasses.”
The system was posted on Facebook in Australia and McLean says they immediately got 5000-6000 views.
“This technology will change the way we all do business,” he says.
Even accidents are recorded. If a tracked vehicle is involved in any incident it might show as “a mushroom cloud”, says McLean who would love to see a pterodactyl included somewhere too.
As an anecdote to show the system’s development, McLean highlighted the accuracy of Sensium’s ArmadaGPS platform after receiving a speeding fine. This can determine his speed at many points along his route until he discovered where the camera was sited. “It was at the bottom of a hill before the road climbed another hill, so I brake there now.”
Sensium has a range of other tools too for increasing business productivity.
These include business intelligence, new partnership services and hardware options, CartonCloud automated job creation using cloud logistics based software via existing mobile devices and other hardware.
Since starting 12 years ago, Sensium has taken off. McLean’s father Peter is now on board as operating manager for New Zealand while his son is in Brisbane after establishing the business there about six years ago.
In New Zealand, the business won a Westpac West Auckland region business innovation award when it was based in Paramount Drive, prior to moving to Anvil House in Mt Eden.
Peter McLean and the team are active in the market, regularly attending various industry events around the country.
Sensium will have a stand at the Auckland Build 2017 event at the ASB Showgrounds in November.
Visit sensium.nz for more.
