Robust Wireless Monitoring Solution for Intelligent Transportation Systems
AN Solutions has designed a wireless monitoring and surveillance solution that combines with the existing control systems of intelligent transportation.
Revolutionizing Transportation with Wireless Monitoring
An overlooked aspect in the transportation industry, ensuring the reliability and safety of vehicles is of utmost importance. This is especially true for manufacturers of trains, subways and trams, who must meet stringent maintenance and warranty requirements. Manual monitoring and diagnostics have proven to be costly and time-consuming, leading to the need for automated solutions. AN Solutions, a design firm located in Germany specializing in wireless networking solutions, has successfully addressed these challenges by developing a robust wireless monitoring solution for intelligent transportation systems. As a Microchip Design Partner, AN Solutions effectively utilized Microchip's cutting-edge solutions and components along with their proprietary components to create a monitoring system that excels in predictive maintenance, remote diagnostics and data collection, even in the most demanding environments.
The Challenge: Reliable Monitoring in Harsh Environments
The transportation industry presents unique challenges when it comes to monitoring and diagnostics. Trains, subways and trams operate in harsh environments, with high-voltage cables and metal constructions that inhibit radio signal propagation. Additionally, the monitoring devices must be small enough to fit discreetly within the vehicles and work reliably even during power outages. AN Solutions recognized the need for rugged, reliable monitoring devices that could withstand these challenges and provide continuous data collection.
The Solution: Intelligent Monitoring and Surveillance
AN Solutions designed an intelligent monitoring and surveillance solution that seamlessly integrates into the existing control systems of vehicles. The solution consists of wireless sensing devices placed strategically throughout the vehicles, collecting condition data from each node. This data is then aggregated in a central gateway, which features a secure cellular link to the transportation authority and the manufacturer's back-end servers.
To overcome the challenges of signal propagation and enclosure restrictions, AN Solutions utilized Microchip components, alongside their proprietary @ANY RF platform with an integrated antenna. This module operates at 2.4 GHz and not only uses Microchip/Atmel's robust platform but also features a unique diversity scheme, ensuring robust and stable data transmission even within weatherproof IP65/67 housing. The engineers at AN Solutions fine-tuned the antenna's output power to compensate for the absorption effects of the enclosure material, ensuring optimal performance.
Benefits and Results: Predictive Maintenance and Optimization
The implementation of this robust wireless monitoring solution has yielded numerous benefits for transportation systems. Valuable data that could not be obtained through manual monitoring is now being successfully harvested, enabling predictive maintenance and remote diagnostics. This has resulted in a reduction in service costs and the prevention of breakdowns, ultimately improving the overall reliability and safety of the transportation system.
Furthermore, the dedicated monitoring system has helped manage potential warranty claims and optimize future transportation system designs. By collecting and analyzing data from various sensors throughout the vehicles, manufacturers can identify areas of improvement and make informed decisions for future iterations.
The success of this wireless monitoring solution has reaffirmed AN Solutions as a leader in the intelligent transportation systems market. Their expertise in wireless networking and hardware, combined with Microchip's components, has created a scalable and customizable platform that can be adapted to different applications beyond transportation.
Conclusion: A Partnership for Innovation
AN-Solution's exclusive modules, when integrated with our components, have created a more connected and organized monitoring system. By leveraging our product offerings and AN Solutions' expertise in wireless networking, the challenges of monitoring in harsh environments have been greatly diminished. The benefits of predictive maintenance, remote diagnostics and data collection have improved the reliability and safety of transportation systems, while also providing valuable insights for future optimizations. AN Solutions and Microchip continue to push the boundaries of innovation, enabling intelligent solutions for a variety of industries.