As part of the project, our team of engineers l’Institut du véhicule innovant (IVI) develops a telematics solution designed to continuously collect data throughout the project trials. The objective is to obtain a clear and representative picture of worksite operations in order to better understand energy and operational needs.
Two key metrics to support our analyses
Our solution is based on the use of instruments that allow us to capture the following two essential data points:
🟡 1. The energy consumption of cylinders and other hydraulic actuators of the machinery
Essential for estimating the actual demand of a diesel-powered heavy machine that is intended to be replaced by its electric-powered equivalent.
🟡 2. The energy consumption generated by machinery movement
To analyze the duty cycle, operational load, and on-site behavior.
These measurements are taken on both diesel and electric equipment. Digital twins modeling these machines are then created and used to estimate and compare their operational performance.
Measurements are sampled from the equipment’s CAN bus several thousand times per second, providing a continuous view of the machine’s real-world behavior.
Understanding a worksite before deploying electrification
The objective of this instrumentation is to develop generic yet representative profiles of typical worksite operations. It also helps identify potential limitations of an electric machine even before it is deployed on site. This, in turn, enables planning of the charging strategy and operational activities during the two-week field trial period.
As this type of data does not currently exist, it will provide the project with strong scientific and analytical evidence. The data collected will thus become reliable reference points, beyond any doubt, for organizations considering the electrification of their heavy machinery fleets.
A solution tested on a simulated test bench
As shown in the photo above, before installing our telematics solution on real heavy machinery during the trial phase, our team emulates a vehicle and its sensors in order to:
- validate sensor readings;
- validate the reading and generation of CANbus messages;
- ensure data integrity and reliability;
- determine uncertainties.
This rigorous methodology allows us to ensure that the instrumentation system fully meets the project’s needs.
A simple, versatile, and adaptable system
The solution requires only two small enclosures, which are easy to install and compatible with all machine configurations (a major challenge!), whether diesel or electric. This system enables rapid integration across a wide range of construction equipment while ensuring comparable data from one machine to another.
Development is based on the combined expertise of our team, including our specialist in metrology and systems architecture.
In summary
The telematics solution developed by our team is accurate, versatile, and well suited to the project’s needs. It enables:
✔️ standardization of data to enable comparison between diesel and electric equipment;
✔️ a realistic understanding of how a worksite operates;
✔️ planning based on objective measurements;
✔️ full adaptability, regardless of the machine;
✔️ to establish a scientific process.