News - AAEON Embedded Controllers Help Reduce Carbon Footprint for Public Transport Buses

AAEON Embedded Controllers Help Reduce Carbon Footprint for Public Transport Buses

The well-connected bus network brought convenience to everyday commuters, but just how effective are we in reducing the carbon footprint in our public transport through reductions in fuel consumption and carbon emissions?  

As a move towards a cleaner planet, governments generally encourage people to take public transport, such as buses, trains, and rapid transit so as to reduce carbon emission. However, carbon emission volume is not only about the number of vehicles on the road, it has also to do with how the driver drives to optimize fuel utilization. In order to minimize the carbon footprint brought about by today’s public transport, vehicle transport companies are beginning to install systems used for monitoring and managing carbon emissions, and are looking into ways to optimize fuel consumption for greater energy savings.

The system, usually a rugged embedded controller, has to be fanless, and capable of connecting with external I/O modules and sensors in order to detect vehicle carbon emissions and fuel consumption via built-in CAN bus protocol and RS-485 serial ports. 

The embedded controller collects real-time data of carbon emissions and fuel consumption, and sends these data via wireless LAN and GPRS (via mini PCIe interface) back to a Control Center for data monitoring and analysis.  Each vehicle in the fleet is fitted with an embedded controller able to collect real-time information of the driver and route taken, and status of the fuel system and engine of the vehicle through the CAN bus.  The embedded controller also monitors each fueling event, when the vehicle is refueled and fuel levels. With statistical data over a period of time, steps can be taken to reduce carbon footprint for each vehicle.

Due to the nature and space constraints of public transport vehicles, embedded controllers need to be rugged and compact in design to withstand shock and vibration incurred on the roads.  Although passively cooled, embedded controllers need to have excellent thermal cooling mechanisms for them to operate under large temperature variations, throughout a day and through the different seasons of the year.  A well designed embedded controller is required to be low powered, yet having a high performance per watt ratio (e.g. Intel Atom processors) to guarantee stability and reduce maintenance costs during its lifetime.  Compatibility and stability connecting with external peripherals and sensors is also a serious consideration for system integrators.

Today, embedded controllers are used more and more outside of the control rooms and factories, this time to monitor and control vehicles in energy saving, and to reduce greenhouse emissions for a cleaner world.

Model name: AAEON AEC-6831

Reference website: www.aaeon.com