At the core of ITS4mobility is Monta V ista Linux Professional Edition, running the on-board vehicle computer subsystem. Major features of ITS4mobility include automatic vehicle location, on-time arrival/departure monitoring, two-way text messaging, automatic next-stop announcement, and des t ination sign control. The use of GPRS (General Packet Radio Services) for data communication allows traffic controllers to log a vehicle’s status remotely and to download new timetables and software upgrades into specific vehicles.
“ITS4mobility gi ves passengers, operators and transport authorities a wide range of benefits. It helps cut travel time, improves punctuality and provides tools for improved vehicle management,” said Göran Varosy, marketing director at Volvo Mobility Systems. “We are proud th at Volvo and MontaVista, with our combined technologies, can provide the public transportation market with solutions that increase customer satisfaction and ultimately increase profitability. MontaVista Linux played an important role in getting this te chn ological solution to market very quickly.”
“For the multifunctional, networked transportation telematics solutions from Volvo Mobility Systems, the real-time capability and service reliability of MontaVista Linux are key,” said Cees Boshuizen, vi ce p resident, EMEA Sales, MontaVista Software. “MontaVista Linux also provides ITS4mobility with an open and flexible architecture that is modular and easily scalable to fit a transportation system’s particular needs.”
Availability and Current U se
IT S4mobility is available globally today and has been deployed in several Nordic cities.
In Tromsö, Norway, the city uses the system to provide travel information in real-time to its passengers, and to monitor and control its city bus operati ons. The c ity operates a bus fleet of around 100 buses. The project with Volvo Mobility includes the integration of 17 buses to the AVL/RTPI (Automatic Vehicle Location/Real-time Passenger Information) system delivered by Volvo, and using the commerciall y av ailable public GPRS network for data communication. Eventually, the whole fleet of 100 city buses will be linked to the system.
In Gothenburg, Sweden, the central unit of ITS4mobility is already today tracking over 450 buses and trams, providing real-time passenger information to traffic controllers, information officers, to passengers at more than 140 at-stop displays, and also via the Internet and WAP. ITS4mobility can use any radio communications protocol, and can be installed for any size of flee t. The on-board units will also be installed shortly on ferries operating in the public transport system of Gothenburg.
About MontaVista Linux Professional Edition
This industry-leading comprehensive embedded operating system (OS) and cross devel opment environment is MontaVista Software’s flagship product. It includes a modern OS featuring real-time functionality, multi-process capabilities and multi-threaded remote debugging, with extensive bundled software components including rich netwo rking.
Mo ntaVista Linux boasts the industry’s most comprehensive embedded development package with broad support for embedded processor architectures, CPU boards and software components. It targets more than 25 processors from nine industry-leading archite ctures a nd supports more than 100 boards offering developers great freedom to choose the elements for their development environment, which, in effect, allows them to speed cutting-edge products to market faster and at a lower cost.
Technica l Overvie w – ITS4m obility Onboard Unit
– AIC (vehicle computer, including display): MontaVista Linux Professional Edition; Processor: Motorola MPC823e; Display 5.5″ TFT full color, 320X240
GPS module
– Long-range data radio module: GSM (SMS/GPRS), Tetra or pr ivate radio
– Short-range data radio module: WLAN, private radio or inductive loop
– Internal and external vehicle signs
About MontaVista Software
MontaVista Software is a leading global supplier of systems software for i ntelligent connecte d devices and associated infrastructure. MontaVista powers the embedded revolution by providing GNU/Linux-based open-source software solutions. Founded in 1999 by real-time operating system (RTOS) pioneer James Ready, MontaVista offers a family of product s under the Mo ntaVista Linux umbrella that address broad-based software developer needs encompassing applications ranging from communications infrastructure to consumer electronics. Multiple editions of MontaVista Linux are available including Profession al, Consumer El ectronics and Carrier Grade, along with complementary technology products providing powerful Java and graphics development capabilities.
Headquartered in the heart of Silicon Valley, in Sunnyvale, Calif., MontaVi sta Software is a priv ately held company funded by leading investors such as Alloy Ventures, US Venture Partners, RRE Ventures, WR Hambrecht + Co., IBM, Intel Capital, Sony, Panasonic (Matsushita), Toshiba America and Yamaha Corporation. For more information about MontaVista S oftware, please visit http://www.mvista.com.
About Volvo Mobility Systems
Volvo Mobility Systems (VMS) is a telematics unit within the Volvo Group, one of the world’s leading suppliers of commercial transport solutions. VMS provides transport solutions to citi es and transport operators around the world, including transport system design, vehicles, intelligent transport systems (ITS), financing and project management. VMS is based in Göteborg (Gothenburg), Sweden. For mo re information see http://www.volvo.com/m obility
Linux is a registered trademark of Linus Torvalds. MontaVista is a registered trademark of MontaVista Software Inc. All other names mentioned are trademarks, registered trademarks or service marks of their respective companies.
Contacts:
MontaVista Software,
Joe Samagond,
Director of Marketing and Corporate Communications,
MontaVista Software Inc.,
Phone: (408) 328-9234,
E-mail: jsamagond@mvista.com
Patricia Colby,
PR Strategy a nd Business Development,
Pacifico Inc.,
Phone: (408) 293-8600 ext. 340,
E-mail: pcolby@pacifico.com
Volvo Mobility Systems,
Göran Varosy,
Marketing Director,
Volvo Mobility Systems AB,
Phone: +46-31-772-4740,
Email: goran.varosy@volvo.com”
