- Accelerometer
The accelerometer is where much of the rich vehicle data comes from. It’s the electromechanical part of a telematics device that tells the position (up/down, left/right, etc.) of the vehicle.
- Acceleration
A vehicle’s ability to gain or increase in speed.
- Active Sensor
A sensing device that requires an external source of power to operate.
- Active Tracking
Using increased data logging frequency, Active Tracking is good for industries that need precise and immediate vehicle location, such as in emergency/medical services
- Aggressive Driving
This is a type of high-risk driving behavior that can be tracked by a telematics device. Aggressive driving includes speeding, which has its obvious risks; harsh braking, which can indicate the driver was following too closely or distracted; hard acceleration, which reduces the chance of reacting on time, not to mention isn’t fuel-efficient; and hard cornering, which can also indicate distracted driving or even drowsy driving.
- Asset Tracking
Beyond the vehicle, companies have many other types of assets, such as heavy machinery, equipment, tools, etc. All of these can be tracked just like a vehicle.
- Auto Integrations
The ability to embed apps and use sensor technology within a vehicle, e.g. Apples CarPlay, MirrorLink, Renaults Rlink, and Android Auto.
- Autonomous Vehicles
With several “levels” of autonomous technology, the highest level is self-driving cars, trucks, buses and all. Using sensors, cameras, and telematics data in order to detect other cars and conditions around the vehicle, autonomous vehicle technology allows the vehicle to go without an operator.
B
Big Data
Big Data is all the information collected that can be captured, not just of your fleet vehicles but other systems the data can be integrated with (such as smart traffic signals as just one example).
Black Box
A small device fitted to a vehicle, which transmits driving behavior data to the insurer.
Baud rate
The transmission speed of a data line.
C
CAN Bus
A message-based, multi-master serial protocol for transmitting and receiving vehicle data within a Controller Area Network (CAN). Sometimes written as “CAN bus,” the CAN Bus connects multiple Electronic Control Units (ECUs) also known as nodes.
Connected Vehicles
Vehicle-to-vehicle communication and vehicle-to-infrastructure communication are what make a connected vehicle. Connected vehicles are also largely part of how autonomous vehicle (self-driving car) technology is made possible.
Cybersecurity
With any type of data being transmitted, there is always the need for cybersecurity. The FBI, NHTSA, and NAFA have all expressed the need for greater awareness and action on cybersecurity regarding connected vehicles.
Close platform
A closed platform may have vehicle manufacturer specific hardware where it can access to data is limited or filtered.
CAN
Controller Area Network. A standard serial interface bus which is commonly used in vehicles.
CAN H
CAN High CAN bus wire with an operating voltage between 2,5-3,5V.
CAN L
CAN Low CAN bus wire with an operating voltage between 1,5-2,5V.
COM Port
RS232 communication port on a PC.
D
Data Center
A collective term for the physical site, network elements, systems, etc., that supports computing and network services.
Data Privacy
Strong data governance in telematics is essential in order to protect the privacy of personal and vehicle data. The issue of data privacy is also linked to the current conversation in the transportation industry over who “owns” the data coming from your vehicle.
Data Visualization (dashboards, etc.)
Data Visualization is what brings the data coming from the telematics device into an understandable “dashboard” on the computer.
E
ECO Driving
Driving in such a way as to minimize fuel consumption and the emission of carbon dioxide.
ECU
Electronic Control Unit. An Electronic Control Unit is a device, such as a sensor or an actuator, that is connected to other devices via a CAN Bus. A vehicle can contain dozens of ECUs for functions such as mirror adjustment, window power, airbags, cruise control, entertainment, and, most significantly, engine control. To form a CAN, two or more ECUs are needed.
Electric Vehicles
There are several types of electric vehicles, with the most common being hybrid electric vehicles that do not require getting plugged in. These vehicles, such as Toyota Prius, still run on gas but use technology such as regenerative braking to help make that fuel tank last a little longer.
Electronic Logging Device (ELD)
An electronic logging device also called an ELD, is a technology for drivers of commercial motor vehicles (CMVs) to automatically record driving time and Hours of service (HOS) records and capture data on the vehicle’s engine, movement, and miles driven.
Engine Diagnostics
Engine status data for all major engine protocols, such as rpm, voltage, fuel usage, coolant temperature, as well as fluid levels, can be communicated through the telematics device, which plugs into the OBD II port.
Engine Hours
Engine Hours are different from what is tracked by the odometer, which is actual miles driven. The odometer does not include time idling at a stoplight, for example, whereas Engine Hours tells you the actual hours an engine has run.
- Firmware
Programming that is written to the read-only memory (ROM) of a computing device. Firmware, which is added at the time of manufacturing, is used to run user programs on the device.
- Fleet
A number of vehicles operating together or under the same ownership.
- Fuel Usage
This measurement is how much fuel is consumed by the vehicle. This information can also be seen for the entire fleet.
- Fuel economy
The fuel economy of an automobile relates distance traveled by a vehicle and the amount of fuel consumed. Consumption can be expressed in terms of volume of fuel to travel a distance, or the distance traveled per unit volume of fuel consumed.
- FMS
Fleet Management System.
- FMS CAN bus
Fleet Management System CAN bus. Please see the FMS-Standard protocol.
G
Geo-fencing
Geo-fencing allows managers to create zones of various types such as an office or customer location. For example, if a certain vehicle should not leave a Jobsite, a fleet manager could set up a geofence for that vehicle around the area it should stay.
GPS Fleet Tracking
GPS Fleet Tracking is what tracks the location of the vehicle. For telematics, GPS Tracking includes much more than “dots on a map” but tracks driver behavior and vehicle health.
Glonass
Russian positional satellites akin to GPS to provide accurate positioning of devices.
GPRS
Mobile data service on 2G, 3G, and 4G mobile systems.
GPS
A satellite navigation system that provides location and time information.
GSM
An open, digital technology that is used for transmitting mobile voice and data services.
Green Fleet
“Green Fleet” is a term used to reference fleets with sustainability initiatives and are on a mission to reduce greenhouse gas emissions also these fleets typically use telematics to aid their efforts, such as reducing idling, better tracking emissions fault codes, figuring which applications would be good for alternative fuels, and more.
Golden Hour
Golden Hour in the lives of accident victims. In emergency medicine, “Golden Hour” refers to the immediate one-hour time period following a traumatic injury, during which, chances of preventing death by way of prompt medical treatment are the highest.
H
Hours of Service (HOS)
Hours of Service (HOS) are the regulations in the commercial vehicle industry, namely for over-the-road fleets but it does cover many commercial vehicle drivers, that govern how many hours drivers can drive and when they must take breaks.
- Internet of Things (IoT)
The Internet of Things (IoT) is the trend toward “smart” products, from smart products in your home such as refrigerators and lights, to products used in transportation such as smart traffic signals that can modify signal timing based off traffic flows throughout the day.
- Insurance Telematics
Vehicular tracking devices used by automobile insurance companies to alter rates based on driver behavior. Currently, Progressive (Snapshot), Allstate, and others typically track braking and mileage. An excessive number of hard-brakes may indicate risky driving habits.
- Intelligent Transportation System (ITS)
The application of advanced information and communications technology to surface transportation for enhanced safety and mobility while reducing environmental impacts.
- Installation
The process or action of installing a device or program, such as a Black Box/OBC or Smartphone telematics app.
- Idling Time
Idling occurs whenever a vehicle’s engine is running but the vehicle is not moving. Drivers commonly idle because they are waiting to pick up passengers, to run the air conditioner or heating, or to power other accessories.
- ISO 11992
CAN-based vehicle bus standard used for communication between the tractor and one or more trailers. This is commonly known as the Trailer CAN bus.
J
J1708
Standard used for serial communications between ECU’s on a heavy-duty vehicle and between a computer and the vehicle.
J1939
The vehicle bus standard used for communication and diagnostics among vehicle components, originally by the car and heavy-duty truck industry.
K
K-Line
Part of the ISO 9141 On-Board Diagnostics vehicle network interface standard. Also used for tachograph communications.
L
LED
Light-Emitting Diode.
M
M2M (Machine to Machine)
Technologies that allow both wireless and wired systems to communicate with other devices of the same type.
N
Nearest Vehicle
Using telematics, fleets can improve dispatching by seeing on a map the nearest vehicle to a location. For example, maybe a service fleet gets an emergency call. Instead of bothering each mobile worker to see if they can respond to the job and exactly where they are, a dispatcher can easily see which vehicle and worker are closest to the job and dispatch and route them straight from where they are.
NFC
Near Field Communication.
O
OBD II
On-board diagnostics port (OBD-II) is what allows aftermarket devices, to tap into the engine control module (ECM), which is essentially the brain of the vehicle. This is how, for example, the Dolphin device can send alerts about vehicle diagnostic trouble codes or that a driver is speeding.
Odometer
The odometer in a vehicle is the actual miles driven. This is not to be confused with a vehicle’s actual engine hours.
Open Platform
Open platform means a telematics system, which provides open or free access to the data through a software development kit (SDK), and application programming interfaces (APIs). Open platform users have the flexibility for integrating telematics with their other business systems and using partner vendor devices, or third-party applications and solutions.
OBD
On-Board Diagnostics (an automotive term referring to a vehicle’s self-diagnostic and reporting capability).
OEM
Original Equipment Manufacturer.
P
Preventive Maintenance
Preventive maintenance is the scheduled maintenance to regularly check a vehicle for potential problems. Getting the oil changed is just one part of a preventive maintenance check. Other tasks include checking all fluid levels, brakes, tires, and so on.
PGN
Parameter Group Number and represents the identifier of a J1939 message. Every J1939 message has a unique PGN assigned to it by the SAE committee when the message is defined.
R
Remote Diagnostics
Remote diagnostics through telematics provides alerts on diagnostic trouble codes (DTCs) that are generated by the engine’s computer. DTCs in modern engine technology are the engine’s way of tracking issues, from low voltage to low fluids and so on.
Remote Monitoring and Control
The increasingly automated monitoring and control of devices, technologies, or processes. Wireless devices that send information gathered directly to control centers are often used to achieve this.
RS232
A standard serial interface bus which is commonly used.
S
Smart Car
An automobile that uses technology to support the driver and create a safer traffic environment. Different systems (inside and outside of the car) are connected and communicate with each other in order to allow intelligent intervention in dangerous situations and more fluid traffic.
Scorecards
A scorecard can be used for drivers so it to help manage and drivers get a gauge on their driving habits. Many drivers are unaware of sloppy or unsafe driving habits, so using driver scorecards have been shown to improve these driving behaviors.
SPN
SPN stands for Suspect Parameter Number and represents the identity of a J1939 parameter. Every J1939 parameter has a unique SPN, which is 19-bits wide, assigned to it by the SAE committee when the parameter is defined.
T
Telematics
Telematics is the monitoring of a car, truck or another type of equipment or asset with a device that collects GPS location, vehicle speed, driving behavior, and other engine data to record movements on a map.
Trips
Vehicle trips from point A to point B can be tracked by telematics and viewed from a fleet management software portal or app. In Dolphin App and web-based software, a trip is defined when the vehicle starts moving to when the vehicle starts moving again after a stop.
Termination
120 Ohms resistor that is used in the CAN bus network at the end of the wires.
Telematics
Telematics links the areas of telecommunication and information technology linking information from at least two information systems using a telecommunication system and a special form of data processing.
U
Usage-Based Insurance (UBI)
Also called Pay as You Drive (PAYD), UBI bases the insurance rate on pre-defined variables including distance, behavior, time, and place. The data gathering and telematics can be provided by a “black box” in the vehicle, a dongle-type device, or even a smartphone.
V
Vehicle Identification Number (VIN)
The Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) assigned to every vehicle is what tracks the vehicle throughout its life, no matter who owns it.
Vehicle-to-Infrastructure (V2I)
The communication of smart cars and commercial vehicles with surrounding sensors, such as signal phase and timing (SPaT) information.
Vehicle-to-Vehicle (V2V)
Using a region of the 5.9 GHz band, V2V systems allow vehicles in order to communicate with each other and with roadside stations. Networks of vehicles can help avoid congestion also find better routes and aid law enforcement.
Z
Zones
Creating a zone is a key functionality in telematics software which allows fleet managers to track metrics on productivity.