WEST CHESTER, Pa. — Amsted Digital Solutions®, a global leader in onboard telematics solutions, has partnered with RailPulse, an industry-wide coalition working to accelerate the adoption of telematics across North America, under a multi-year non-exclusive Reseller Agreement.
“We’re excited to offer Amsted Digital Solutions’ robust telematics platform to RailPulse and its customers,” said David Shannon, General Manager of RailPulse. “Amsted has been a trusted rail telematics provider in North America for more than fifteen years, and we’re excited about their approach to sensor-free technology through their Bogie IQ® solution. We anticipate substantial benefits to our users while contributing to freight rail as a whole.”
The first-of-its-kind IQ Series™ gateway from Amsted Digital Solutions is a maintenance-free, low-power telematics device built to perform in the harshest operating environments of freight rail. The powerful built-in capabilities of the IQ Series gateway paired with advanced machine learning technology virtually eliminate the need for specialized external sensors, offering the lowest total adoption cost in the industry. With innovation and sustainability at the forefront, Amsted Digital Solutions works to minimize its impact on the environment. Unlike other solutions that rely on numerous wireless sensors, which contribute to increased battery disposal in the future, Amsted Digital Solutions’ approach prioritizes efficiency and eco-friendliness.
RailPulse seeks to drive productivity, value and growth in the freight rail industry through a vendor-neutral and open-architecture railcar telematics infrastructure. Constituents will be able to leverage RailPulse’s standard service level agreement with vendors such as Amsted Digital Solutions and access device performance data and installation recommendations for various car types. Amsted Digital Solutions is also working with RailPulse to expand their software application to further enhance the value for mutual customers.
“We’re proud to partner with RailPulse as we work together to improve the competitive position of rail freight transportation,” said Brad Myers, COO and EVP of Amsted Digital Solutions. “Our innovative approaches to telematics align seamlessly with RailPulse’s vision for an interconnected, data-driven future for freight rail. Thanks to our cutting-edge sensor-free technology, we’re able to maximize the value for our customers while delivering the most advanced platform available for freight rail assets.”
When mounted on the body of virtually any railcar, the IQ Series gateway provides:
- Dynamic ETA calculations and geofence entry and exit alerts for first- and last-mile validation
- Accurate Load Status in Motion (LSiM) for precise loaded and empty mileage calculations
- Impact detection
When mounted on one or both trucks of a railcar configured with Bogie IQ® technology, the IQ Series gateway provides real-time onboard health monitoring in addition to all of the data available from the body-mounted gateway. These include:
- Stationary loading/unloading detection (firmware release targeted for Q3-2024 via over-the-air upgrade)
- Monitoring of wheel health
- Real-time monitoring of brake slide events
- Impact differential detection, a feature that identifies which end of a railcar took the initial impact during a coupling event
As new features become available, existing installed gateways can be updated through simple, over-the-air firmware upgrades to instantly unlock new capabilities, eliminating the need to schedule a railcar to facility for physical replacements.
Amsted Digital Solutions works closely with Amsted Rail, the leading global provider of railcar systems and components, to deliver the ground-breaking Bogie IQ technology by merging onboard IoT technology with real-world freight railway expertise in diagnosing component health.
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About RailPulse
RailPulse, formed in 2020 by a diverse group of industry leading stakeholders, is dedicated to transforming the rail industry through accelerating the adoption of GPS and other telematics technologies delivered through an open-architecture railcar telematics platform. The platform emphasizes data standardization, cloud storage, and delivering actionable insights to enhance service levels, visibility, safety, and efficiency in North American rail-based supply chains. Visit railpulse.com to learn more about the RailPulse initiative.
About Amsted Digital Solutions
Amsted Digital Solutions Inc. is a subsidiary of Amsted Rail Company, Inc., the leading global provider of undercarriage and end-of-car railcar components with over 40 locations across six continents. Together, we combine nearly 150 years of excellence in rail component design and manufacturing with today’s leading-edge rail telematics technology.
