OBD-II / CAN Asset Tracker from Golioth

Managing a fleet of vehicles presents numerous challenges, including optimizing routes, ensuring timely maintenance, and keeping track of vehicle locations. Traditional methods of fleet management can be inefficient and costly, especially without real-time data. Golioth’s IoT OBD-II / CAN Asset Tracker offers a comprehensive solution to these challenges by providing real-time monitoring and diagnostics for vehicle fleets.

Golioth’s asset tracker connects directly to the vehicle’s OBD-II port, capturing critical data on vehicle location, performance, and diagnostics. This data is transmitted to the Golioth cloud platform, where fleet managers can access it in real-time. The platform’s intuitive interface allows for easy visualization and analysis of fleet data, enabling proactive maintenance, efficient route planning, and improved driver behavior monitoring.

Real-time location tracking helps optimize logistics, reduce fuel consumption, and ensure timely deliveries. The system sends instant alerts if a vehicle is moved without authorization, aiding in theft recovery. Additionally, diagnostic trouble codes (DTCs) and performance metrics enable fleet managers to address maintenance issues before they lead to costly downtime.

Telematics data also provides insights into driver behavior, such as speeding and harsh braking, which can be used to coach drivers on safe practices. This not only enhances safety but can also lead to significant fuel savings. Insurance companies can leverage this data to offer personalized, usage-based insurance premiums, rewarding safe driving habits.

By integrating Golioth’s IoT solution, fleet managers can streamline operations, reduce costs, and enhance overall efficiency, ensuring that their vehicles are always in optimal condition and their drivers are practicing safe driving habits.

NOTE: Although the firmware in this reference design has been tailored specifically for use with the OBD-II protocol in a vehicle, the same underlying hardware, Zephyr RTOS, and Golioth SDK can be used to build connected devices that support any CAN-based protocol. This includes J1939 for heavy-duty vehicles, CANopen for industrial machinery, and NMEA 2000 for maritime vessels.

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This solution is fully compatible with the Golioth platform and all its features.

• Real-time data on vehicle location and diagnostics enables efficient route planning and proactive maintenance, reducing downtime and operational costs.
• Insights into driver behavior and vehicle performance help improve safety, fuel efficiency, and overall fleet performance.
• Comprehensive data logging helps you meet regulatory requirements and provides detailed records for audits and compliance purposes.

• Aludel Mini prototyping platform
• ‍Ostentus front panel  
• ‍SparkFun nRF9160 Thing Plus  
• ‍Nordic nRF9160 System-in-Package (SiP),

This reference design integrates two off-the-shelf MikroE Click sensor boards:

• ‍GNSS 7 Click board with a u-blox NEO-M9N GNSS module‍
• CAN SPI Click 3.3V board with a Microchip MCP2515 CAN controller & TI SN65HVD230 CAN transceiver