Skip to main content

AEM establishes telematics team to ensure compatibility

A new team has been established by the US-based Association of Equipment Manufacturers (AEM) to ensure telematics technologies being offered by different firms will be compatible. The telematics task force is providing the AEM members with a comprehensive industry response to end-user requests for a standard machine data interface. The team is working to reach a consensus on an industry telematics data standard that will enable equipment manufacturers to support the needs of contractors, rental houses and d
July 1, 2013 Read time: 2 mins
Major manufacturers are working through the AEM to ensure that the machine control and telematics technology fitted to their machines will be compatible with systems from other firms
A new team has been established by the US-based 1100 Association of Equipment Manufacturers (AEM) to ensure telematics technologies being offered by different firms will be compatible. The telematics task force is providing the AEM members with a comprehensive industry response to end-user requests for a standard machine data interface. The team is working to reach a consensus on an industry telematics data standard that will enable equipment manufacturers to support the needs of contractors, rental houses and distribution. This is a key issue for customers running fleets of machines comprising equipment from different manufacturers. Compatibility will allow customers to use the same system to monitor the performance of all the different machines in a fleet. The telematics team has been working on a confidential survey to determine which level or types of data they are willing to pass on to end-users. At the same time, AEM has partnered with the 6469 Association of Equipment Management Professionals (AEMP) to find out what types of data end-users want. Major manufacturers such as 176 Case, 178 Caterpillar, 233 Hitachi, 236 Hyundai, 2300 Komatsu and 359 Volvo CE all offer different telematics systems. But at present, the quantity of data that can be viewed in one machine using a different manufacturer’s telematics system is limited and there is widespread recognitions amongst the manufacturers that compatibility will be of benefit for the industry. Isidoro Arosemena, equipment management solutions manager from Caterpillar’s EAME region said, “There have been some advances in standardising the supply of data from different machines. Our system can download basic data such as working hours or oil and fuel usage from non-Cat machines. There will be more in the future when agreements have been reached with other manufacturers.”

Related Content

  • Caterpillar’s new Dubai training facility
    July 15, 2016
    Caterpillar has established a regional training centre in Dubai This new technical and sales training facility is intended to support over 7,000 Cat dealer technicians in the Africa and Middle East (AME) region. The facility is offering hands-on machines and power systems technical and sales training to Caterpillar’s dealers and customers in the AME.
  • Rapid adoption of GPS machine control
    February 10, 2012
    The high sophistication of GPS machine control systems has resulted in a fast pace of technological advancement. The three major players in the machine control sector, Leica Geosystems, Topcon and Trimble have all made major gains in recent years. The sophistication of the latest systems can combine satellite position data from the GPS and GLONASS networks with information from total stations to provide precise, high speed machine operation. Further more the firms have also prepared themselves for the intro
  • Caterpillar launches monitoring service for both man and machine
    December 10, 2015
    Caterpillar has launched a 24/7 monitoring service to oversee the human factor in machinery operations. Through in-cab and wearable safety technologies, analysts at Caterpillar’s 24/7 Monitoring Centre correlate data about the health and productivity of operators and equipment. The information can reveal the magnitude of conditions such as fatigue and distraction and their impact on operations. “Our customers want better visibility of how behaviour impacts safety and productivity,” said Tim Crane,
  • China is crucial market for Caterpillar’s long term operations
    January 6, 2017
    China has long been an important market for Caterpillar, which first began operating in the country in the early 1970s following talks between China and the US. Its first equipment in China was for generators to power a communications system supplied to China by the US following the talks. The company also worked closely with LiuGong as part of a technology transfer agreement, which highlights Caterpillar’s focus on China. The global crisis has not been an easy time for any construction equipment manufactur