OPEN SYSTEMS: FREIGHTLINER
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US truck manufacturer Freightliner has introduced a powerful on-board computer system as an option on its top-of-the-line trucks. The Truck Productivity Computer (TPC) combines a radio-CD player with a GPS navigation unit and a computer (with a Hitachi processor) based on the Windows CE for Automotive operating system. This is closely related to the operating system that Scania uses and can run software similar to that available on a desktop PC.
The whole TPC unit fits into a US-standard dashboard slot and features a luminous display. More importantly, it includes an P.S2,32 serial port, Universal Serial Bus (USB) connections and an infrared (IrDA) port. These will allow a user to connect almost any type of computer or communications device, including keyboards, printers, bar-code scanners, microphones and larger display units. The TPC even includes industry-standard voice recognition software, allowing many of its functions to be used on the move hands-free—an important safety feature, Freightliner web sites (MyTruck.com and MyTruckShop.com) provide information on weather and traffic conditions and assistance with route planning, servicing and record-keeping; these can be accessed from the TPC. But the firm has also signed up more than two dozen service providers and hardware suppliers to support the TPC, including a freight exchange (backload) service, fleet management agencies and manufacturers of fuel monitoring equipment.
When even more firms start to provide services and accessories the TPC could become a de facto standard for on-board computing and communication.