iTECH: Listening to the Engine, the Voice of Reason
entral to driver-performance monitoring is the data generated by the engine control module. The ECM manages engine performance, monitors the engine’s vital signs and provides diagnostics connections for troubleshooting.
As the number of collection points in the data tree expanded over the years, fleet managers and engine manufacturers began to realize they could massage the download from the J1708 databus to yield a profile on how the driver was operating the engine.
Today’s array of ECMs carry more sophisticated capabilities than earlier models, according to Chuck Blake, manager of special projects at Detroit Diesel Corp. Detroit Diesel Electronic Controls, or DDEC, are now in their fifth generation.
This article appeared in the February/March edition of TT's iTECH supplement. For the full story, see the Feb. 20 print edition of Transport Topics. Subscribe today.
