New Jersey-based I.D. Systems is all about ‘Asset Intelligence’ and it is bringing its experience of asset tracking in other industries to the aviation sector
Asset tracking is hardly unknown in the aviation business, of course, but I.D. Systems is bringing something a little different to the table. It has been providing industrial vehicle tracking and management systems for big customers in the retail sector (Walmart and Walgreens, for example) and the automobile industry (Ford, Audi, Toyota and many others) for nearly 20 years now, but three years ago it took the decision to expand its GPS-based location tracking solutions into the aviation space.
I.D. Systems is not the only company to offer vehicle tracking systems to airports, airlines and the like but what differentiates the company’s offering – called AvRamp® – is its ability to ‘authenticate’ vehicle operators and control many aspects of vehicle safety, maintenance and utilisation. Airside workers must present an electronic ID token (which can be their regular security badge) to a wireless computer mounted in vehicles equipped with the AvRamp system. If the worker is duly trained and authorised, the system will allow the vehicle to operate, and the worker will then be associated with all vehicle activity for the duration that he/she remains logged into that vehicle. If the worker is not trained and authorised for that particular piece of equipment (or at that particular time of day), the system will prevent the vehicle from starting.
This access control function represents a significant step forward in security, effectively preventing ramp vehicles from being hijacked. The system has other advantages as well. AvRamp incorporates many vehicle health and usage monitoring tools, including electronic safety inspection checklists, impact sensing, running time and idle time performance metrics, speed management, and more. I.D. Systems notes that these capabilities will help fleet managers achieve better process control and reduce maintenance costs, as well as help engineering managers optimise vehicle up-time and productivity.
AvRamp not only improves visibility for fleet managers to monitor and assess fleet performance, it also allows for greater personal accountability – vehicle operators can be held exactly accountable for their vehicles, their performance and for any collisions or accidents that occur while they are logged into the vehicle.
AvRamp can communicate via a number of different wireless technologies – including cellular, Wi-Fi and local unlicensed radio frequency – and offers both locally-hosted and remotely-hosted software architectures. This flexibility means that the system can be configured to meet the needs of most IT organisations. Regardless of where the AvRamp server is hosted, one of the system’s most convenient features is that reports are distributed automatically via email, so users don’t have to log in to the software to get the data they need.
AvRamp is based on I.D. Systems’ patented technology that has been deployed on over 60,000 vehicles to date with many Fortune 500 companies across various industries. According to Larry Terrazas, vice president of aviation services at I.D. Systems, the technology is ideal for airport authorities, third-party operators (handlers) and self-handling carriers. It is already in use with American Airlines and American Eagle Airlines at five of the biggest airports in North America, and I.D. Systems is in negotiations with other major US carriers. Terrazas is also looking to expand the system’s footprint into the UK, Continental Europe and Asia.
