Design, Installation, and Validation of a Data Acquisition System

A data acquisition system along with a sensor package was designed and installed on an existing mechanically-controlled cargo tractor to gather more data on their usage patterns. The data collected through the developed system include GPS route, vehicle speed and acceleration, engine state, transmission state, seat occupancy, fuel level, and video recording. The sensor package was designed and integrated in a way that does not interfere with the driver’s operation of the cargo tractor. Cellular network connectivity was employed to retrieve sensor data so as to minimize human effort and maintain typical usage patterns of the outfitted cargo tractors. Testing and validation results showed that the developed system can correctly and effectively record data necessary for further analysis and optimization. A fuel usage analysis was then completed using a chassis dynamometer based on the collected data. The collected data will significantly promote cargo tractor activity simulations in order to facilitate optimizing work flow at large industrial facilities and improving energy efficiency.