Technology Briefs - Sept. 24-Sept. 30
The Latest Headlines:
- New Products Filling In for Digital Radio, Times Reports
- Despite Wireless Providers' Efforts, Cellphone Users Still Just Talking
- Delphi Offers New Injection System
- GM May Gamble with Fuel Cells
- IdleAire Gets $1 Million Grant for Additional Truck Parking
- Clean Diesel Uses Reduction System on Medium-Duty Truck Engine
- AirIQ Launches Wireless Dispatching Service for Trucking
- Despite Wireless Providers' Efforts, Cellphone Users Still Just Talking
New Products Filling In for Digital Radio, Times Reports
With the broadcasting industry slow to adopt the digital radio format, a number of companies are developing technology to convert conventional analog signals into digital, the New York Times reported Monday.As conventional broadcasters eschew digital radio, satellite broadcasters like Sirius and XM Satellite radio have stepped up to provide digital service in the United States with mixed results. These offerings have been specifically marketed to long-haul truckers who travel long distances on the promise they can receive commercial-free broadcasting over large portions of the country.
Motorola plans to announce late Monday a line of microprocessors that convert conventional AM and FM radio signals into higher quality digital sound, the Times said. Since digital signals are stored and sent in an electronic form, the sound can be cleaned up, filtered and altered to improve fidelity and eliminate interference from landforms, power lines and buildings, the Times reported. Transport Topics
Despite Wireless Providers' Efforts, Cellphone Users Still Just Talking
Even though wireless phone carriers have put large marketing campaigns behind their wireless Internet services, most users are still content to use their phones just for talking, the Washington Post reported Sunday.Truckers have been using wireless technology for a variety of communications functions, including dispatching, order tracking and route planning.
U.S. wireless carriers have already committed to upgrade their networks, one transmitter at a time, to carry high-speed Internet signals – at a cost of $14 billion, the Post said it cited a survey by the Yankee Group, a leading analyst firm.
This expense could be for naught, said the paper, which cited industry statistics showing only about 5% with cellphone use them to receive small text messages, and that the industry only receives about 1% of its $72.8 billion annual revenue from Internet offerings. Transport Topics
Delphi Offers New Injection System
Parts maker Delphi Corp. Friday introduced a new diesel injection system called Multec, which the company said provides both increased injection pressure and more accurate control of very small volumes of fuel.The technology in the new system is based on balanced valve and feedback control strategies, according to a prepared statement from Delphi.
Dominique Chauvin, managing director of Delphi Energy and Chassis Systems Europe, said the fast, ultra compact solenoid requires less energy than other systems currently in production, operating at battery voltage.
The system, Delphi said, builds on the company’s success in the diesel common rail market. Transport Topics
(Click here for the press release.)
GM May Gamble with Fuel Cells
Richard Wagoner, chief executive officer of GM, said the company's leadership team is nearing a decision on a possible $500 million investment in a 2008 rollout of a line of fuel cell vehicles, Bloomberg reported.
If successful, the move could catapult GM to the forefront of environmental technology and bring big new profit margins.
Fuel cells, which use hydrogen and oxygen to produce power, are seen by many as a solution to the United States' dependence on oil and reducing potentially harmful emissions from car and truck engines.
Wagoner said that he favors producing the cars as a way to reduce so-called greenhouse gases that scientists say are warming the Earth, Bloomberg reported.
GM is also considering whether or not to mass produce a line of fuel cell-powered vehicles, Wagoner said. Transport Topics
IdleAire Gets $1 Million Grant for Additional Truck Parking
IdleAire Technologies Corp. announced Monday that it has won a $1 million grant from the Knoxville (Tenn.) Regional Transportation Planning Organization for the installation of 120 parking spaces off of Interstates 40 and 75 near the city.The spaces will be equipped with connections that provide heating, cooling and shore power, as well as telephone, Internet and television connections for use by truckers.
The IdleAire connections allow trucks to siphon power, without running their diesel engines, and are touted as a way to reduce pollution and conserving fuel from idling trucks.
The addition of the new parking spaces will bring the total number of planned spots to 225, the company’s release said. Transport Topics
Clean Diesel Uses Reduction System on Medium-Duty Truck Engine
Clean Diesel Technologies Inc. said Wednesday it has -- for the first time -- used its mobile ARIS nitrogen oxide reduction system on a medium-duty delivery van equipped with a diesel engine.This system, designed in conjunction with Combustion Component Associates Inc., has been designed to achieve 70% NOx reduction over typical driving cycles, the company said in a prepared statement.
Once in commercial production, the cost to retrofit engines with this system will be less than $10,000 per vehicle and potentially less than $3,000 if installed at the factory on new vehicles. Transport Topics
(Click here for the full press release.)
AirIQ Launches Wireless Dispatching Service for Trucking
AirIQ, a Canadian mobile resource management firm, said Thursday it has made a wireless dispatch service available to complement its vehicle management service.The dispatching service allows for real-time communications between dispatchers and drivers from a hand-held wireless device, the company said. With the system, dispatchers and order-takers can transmit job orders to drivers directly into a handset and drivers can access delivery details from web-enabled wireless devices like PDAs and cellphones.
All of these transmissions and other dispatching actions are time-stamped by AirIQ's system for more accurate record keeping.
Based in the Toronto suburb of Pickering, Ontario, AirIQ said it also offers communications and tracking services for tractors, straight trucks and trailers. Transport Topics
(Click here for the full press release.)
