CCJ

May 2017

Fleet Management News & Business Info | Commercial Carrier Journal

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38 commercial carrier journal | may 2017 technology Motus targets battery drain from GPS tracking apps I n the tech world, a beacon is a small device that emits a signal that is picked up by a mobile app running on iOS and Android devices. e app reacts accord- ingly to notify a client of the beacon's proximity. In transportation, one of the most recent applications for beacons is the ridesharing service Uber. e company gives contractor drivers a small device that goes on the windshield. It uses color- pairing technology to help drivers and riders connect at night more quickly, particularly at crowded venues. Riders can personalize their pickup by selecting a color for the beacon to glow on their driver's vehicle. Motus, which offers a mobile platform for vehicle management and mileage tracking for reimbursement, announced another use for beacons in transporta- tion: to reduce battery drain from mobile apps that use GPS to track assets. "Battery drain is a reality for any location-based app, as GPS-enabled technology creates a struggle between location accuracy and battery consump- tion," said Craig Powell, Motus president and chief executive officer. "e more frequently GPS collects data from the phone's GPS chip, cell towers and Wi-Fi hotspots to determine location data, the more battery is consumed." e types of fleets that use the Motus platform have workers who are service, sales and delivery professionals with nonspecialty vehicles they use for both personal and business purposes. Rather than install a telematics de- vice to track personal and business use of the asset, companies can use the Motus platform, which includes a mobile app that drivers download to a smartphone or tablet. e Motus Beacon is a small hardware device that uses Bluetooth Low Energy technology to sense whether or not a Motus user's mobile device is in proximity to their vehicle. When the user approaches or is inside their vehicle, the Motus Beacon senses their proximity and automatically en- ables the Motus App for mileage tracking when the vehicle begins moving. Con- versely, when the vehicle is stopped, the Motus App automatically shuts down, preserving the user's battery life until returning to their automobile. e Motus Beacon typically is placed in the glove box or center console. e device has a basic accelerometer that Motus plans to use for future applications that will track driver safety behaviors. "e beacon-based proximity industry has seen tremendous growth over the past few years," said Rick Blaisdell, chief technology officer. "Our investment in using beacon technology to solve battery drain is only the first step in developing much broader applications to benefit our end users." – Aaron Huff R tmwsystems.com TMT FLEET MAINTENANCE DELIVERED. BIG TIME. SUPERIOR CARRIERS WANTED TO INCREASE ITS WARRANTY RECOVERY DOLLARS. RESULTS • $60,000 recovered in fi rst month — over $500,000 in fi rst year • Improved maintenance decision making • Elimination of time-intensive data entry "With TMT Fleet Maintenance software, we can look at parts purchasing trends, evaluate failure points, arrange better agreements with suppliers, determine if we need to buy extended warranties and develop better specifi cations for our fl eet." Ken Shafer Director of Maintenance Superior Carriers Customer testing revealed up to an 80 percent savings in battery life when pairing the Motus Beacon with the com- pany's mileage tracking app. Craig Powell, Motus president and CEO, says GPS-enabled technology creates a struggle between location accuracy and battery consumption.

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