Technology news and briefs for the week of May 14, 2023:
DDC FPO integrates with Acordex
DDC FPO, a global provider of front- and back-office outsourcing solutions for the transportation and logistics industries, has integrated its DDC Sync mobile data capture solution with dispatch and routing provider Acordex.
DDC Sync visually cues drivers to take high-quality images and provides instant BOL image acceptance and BOL data visibility to carriers. Acordex users obtain real-time load visibility, allowing for better route, load and workforce decision-making.
The integration with DDC Sync, which operates in the background with any transportation management system (TMS), dispatch or routing solution, can be built by DDC FPO for any platform provider. DDC Sync is a native Android app that transmits data. Designed specifically for freight operations, its imaging capabilities provide for enhanced document control and data retrieval, as well as validation before the data is sent to a carrier’s TMS or dispatch software.
Immediate availability of data from BOLs and other documents allows for more informed decisions about routes, loads and equipment and driver utilization. In addition, direct data capture and real-time visibility allows carriers to streamline and expedite accounts receivables processing.
Netradyne launches safety manager assistant
Netradyne, a SaaS provider of artificial intelligence and edge computing solutions focused on safety and driver coaching for commercial fleets, has launched a limited exclusive “invite only” initial release of the Driver•i Safety Manager Assistant to improve the productivity and boost the efficiencies of safety managers through cumulative intelligence and insights in a generative AI assistant.
Netradyne is leveraging generative AI, natural language processions and conversational AI with its Safety Manager Assistant, designed as a companion or “co-pilot” for safety managers to streamline what currently takes hours to do manually to be done in minutes with fast and accurate automation, e.g. which drivers require the most coaching or what a driver needs to do to improve their GreenZone score within a certain amount of time.
The goal of the Safety Manager Assistant is to augment the work of safety managers, not replace them, by bringing them information without the need to search for it, as well as conducting deep performance analysis of the overall fleet, driver risk trends and actionable courses of action.
Cognizant helps accelerate AI adoption
Cognizant has introduced a new enterprise-wide platform, Cognizant Neuro AI, designed to provide enterprises with a comprehensive approach to accelerate the adoption of generative AI technology and harness its business value in a flexible, secure, scalable and responsible way.
The Cognizant Neuro AI platform will guide firms on this journey from identifying company-specific-use cases and operationalizing AI to data engineering and continuous improvement. The platform enables AI and software engineering teams to build flexible, reusable, safe and secure solutions and design conversational and generative user experiences, embedding AI models to create fully functioning apps – all supported across multi-platform, multi-cloud ecosystems.
For transportation and logistics, the Neuro AI platform can be deployed for several use cases:
• Route optimization and traffic prediction
• Fleet management and predictive maintenance
• Customer support and shipment tracking
• Demand and capacity forecasting
• Incident and anomaly detection
• Regulatory compliance and reporting
Cognizant Neuro AI includes a library of reusable generative AI models and agents, development tooling and control components including API and access management, versioning and auditing.
Bendix gets cybersecurity patent for tractor trailers
The U.S. Patent Office has granted a patent to Bendix Corp. for a new technology that will help detect and prevent cyber intrusions against tractor trailers.
The patent is for an active intrusion detector and protection system owned by Bendix for tractor-trailer communication. According to the abstract filed with the patent application, the device detects nefarious communication signals in a vehicle using a combination of detection support logic, nefarious logic, a filtering circuit and a microcontroller. Once incoming communication signals are determined nefarious, the abstract said, “the device transmits a blocking signal to the nefarious logic to filter a frequency band of a communication conductor of the wiring harness in response to the determination that the characteristic measured during the first time differs from the characteristic measured during the second time.”
The number of the patent granted is US11595821B2. Bendix first applied for the patent in February 2021. Names on the patent include Bendix Commercial Vehicle Systems LLC’s Product Owner in Brake Redundancy, Thomas J. Hayes, and the National Motor Freight Traffic Association’s (NMFTA) Senior Cybersecurity Research Engineer, Ben Gardiner.
Geotab Marketplace offers Sensata camera
The Sensata INSIGHTS' AP1 camera solution is now available through the Geotab Marketplace Order Now program.
Sensata INSIGHTS' video telematics solutions seamlessly integrate with the Geotab platform, enabling customers to easily set up safety rules and view video footage within one unified platform. The AP1 includes an advanced driver-assistance system (ADAS) with notifications that focus on supporting drivers, including forward collision warnings, lane departure warnings and tailgating warnings.
Sensata INSIGHTS plans to add more camera solutions to the Geotab Marketplace with varying channel options and additional features.
Designed to enhance the user experience, the Order Now program allows Geotab customers to access a marketplace of solutions with the click of a button within a familiar telematics platform. As an added benefit, Geotab provides ongoing billing, training and technical support for all of its Order Now partners.
DTNA names new tech leader
Daimler Truck North America (DTNA) has named Randy DeBortoli senior vice president of engineering and technology, effective July 1, 2023.
In his new role, based in Portland, DeBortoli will oversee all vehicle development functional areas such as engineering platform management, vehicle engineering and product validation, product compliance and regulatory affairs and future technology development, including advanced engineering and autonomous truck engineering.
He began his career at DTNA in 1992 and brings over 30 years of experience in heavy vehicle engineering at the truck manufacturer to his new role. He starting as a mechanical engineer for Freightliner, before serving as manager for custom engineering and then director of engineering for the Western Star brand. He has served as chief engineer assignments since 2012. He has also led the product validation engineering department at DTNA since 2021.
As a member of the company’s senior leadership team, reporting directly to John O’Leary, DeBortoli will serve on DTNA’s Operating Committee, succeeding Rainer Mueller-Finkeldei, who will take on the role of head of product engineering at Mercedes-Benz Trucks in Stuttgart, Germany.
