Issue link: https://resources.mouser.com/i/1510154
mouser.com/te 15 there are now Bluetooth ® Low Energy transponders embedded in packages and containers capable of sensing the condition of assets during transportation and in communication with gateways installed on vehicles (Figure 1). Moreover, some of these condition-sensing devices also work as tracking devices, which can monitor assets in real time throughout the supply chain. They can also be used by artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) algorithms to provide a wealth of data and analysis services that can ultimately optimize and enhance the supply chain. Another key tool for companies with ever- expanding fleets is the ability to monitor drivers and provide assistance services in case of emergencies, equipment failures, or vehicle breakdowns. In some cases, these services may require remote technicians to provide guidance, and teleconferencing in the field could be a vital tool for minimizing downtime and ensuring driver safety. 5G augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR) headsets, smartphones, or tablet technologies could be used in the field to rapidly diagnose vehicle or technical issues. Users could remotely connect operators or mechanics could aid drivers and support personnel by rapidly tackling problems that would otherwise require expensive service calls or towing to repair facilities. How 5G Is Revolutionizing Fleet Telematics With the decommissioning of 3G services worldwide, fleet telematics service providers and operators must now find services to replace the lost capabilities previously provided by 3G services. Though these legacy 3G services delivered valuable insights into vehicle position with GPS data updates and minimal vehicle operation data, these services ultimately suffered from low throughput, high latency, and often unreliable service. This is still somewhat the case for 4G services, which weren't designed or built to provide the throughput, latency, or reliability capabilities of the latest 5G technologies. With the highly diverse heterogeneous network types provided by 5G services, staying connected in real time with low-latency communication and data transfer is now possible. There are now 5G services that integrate geosynchronous earth orbit (GEO) satellites, low-earth orbit (LEO) satellites, and terrestrial 5G services in a single seamless connectivity solution. This is part of a 5G trend where several service delivery methods—such as satellites, heterogeneous cellular networks, and even Wi-Fi networks—are used to provide connectivity solutions that operate as a single network. These new connectivity capabilities open many doors for fleet telematics solutions. For instance, Figure 1: Bluetooth Low Energy transponders enable operators to collect important data when tracking packages. (Source: AA+W/Stock.Adobe.com)