Data-driven transport: The future is here

Transportation is undergoing a significant revolution. While the mining sector has been using autonomous vehicles for over a decade, we are starting to see the first driverless vehicles on public roads. In the United States, companies like Waymo are showing what's possible. But, in Australia, public opinion, regulatory hurdles, and ethical concerns have put the brakes on the adoption of new technologies.

During the recent opening of the Geotab-SwinburneTransport Innovation Hub at Melbourne's Swinburne University of Technology, Geotab's Senior VP for Growth Markets, Sean Killen said autonomous vehicles, especially trucking, will eventually happen, but it will be a slower, more measured process than some initial predictions.

"Human tolerance can only change at a certain pace, and governments will slow it down. That's a very human reaction to a technology. It may take 20 years but it's going to happen," said Killen.

Autonomous vehicles depend on data – lots of data. Modern vehicles can generate up to 25GB of data per hour of driving. That comes from GPS, accelerometers, cameras, temperature sensors and CAN bus which collects data from sensors connected to almost every part of a vehicle. Geotab enables that data to be sent to cloud services for processing through its in-vehicle appliances to gain insights into driver behaviour and vehicle health. However, some processing is also carried out at the edge to minimise latency and manage bandwidth.

That data is used to identify patterns that indicate whether a vehicle or component is likely to fail, automatically detect unusual driving behaviours or create alerts about environmental conditions that require attention.

"The technology in Geotab's hardware has evolved significantly. There used to be lots of wires and data was stored SD cards that had to be put into a computer. Now it can be sent through the cloud using a SIM that can bounce to multiple carriers. We can monitor the cold chain of a truck for food, beverage or medicine," explained Killen.

While that high-tech approach suggests only modern fleets can reap the benefit, that's not the case. Killen said Geotab's original device can get most of the data by collecting data through the CAN bus and the Electronic Control Unit.

"You just have to know how to go find them. We even have vehicles in the U. S. Postal Service. a fleet of about 280,000 vehicles. It's the biggest fleet, I think, in the world. They brought us some of these original vehicles they had that were up to 45 years old and we figured out a way to get data," explained Killen.

The ability to access data from almost any vehicle stems from the vision of Geotab's founder, Neil Cawse. Killen says Cawse would learn how new vehicles as they were released and add that knowledge to the company's growing body of knowledge. That investment in learning about how every vehicle worked means that when a new vehicle is released, the changes can be integrated and accommodated into Geotab's technology.

The data that is collected using Geotab's systems is extremely valuable. With a team of 150 data scientists the company has developed a large language model that can be used to support fleet operators in everything from pre-emptive vehicle maintenance to enhancing driver safety.

"Even the biggest brands in Australia, famous transportation companies, must innovate or risk being overtaken by competitors. AI can be a powerful tool as it can give insights from the large volumes of data that is collected."

Looking ahead, it's easy to see how this Geotab is well placed to play a significant role in the evolution of autonomous vehicles. But Killen says predictions of widespread adoption of driverless cars and trucks are overly optimistic.

"I don't think they're going to come as fast as people expect. Five years ago, everybody was telling me car-sharing was going to take over the world. But reality slows things down. Do I think autonomous vehicles are coming? 100%. The trucking industry will go through a huge revolution where there will be fewer drivers."

That reduction in the number of drivers is already starting to bite. The national road transport association, NatRoad, says there is currently a shortfall of around 28,000 truck drivers across Australia, which is expected to triple by 2029. Autonomous vehicles provide the industry with a path through that dilemma.

The autonomous vehicle sector hinges on the strategic utilisation of vehicle data. Geotab's approach provides a foundation for innovation. This data facilitates predictive maintenance, optimising fleet performance and minimising downtime, while enhancing driver safety. At a time when the transportation industry is facing significant challenges, technological innovation can help the sector prepare to embrace new opportunities as they emerge.