Perfecting School Transportation Through Technology

With advancements in the design and implementation of electric vehicles ever-changing, the thought struck into our minds to make the battery charging and data-gathering infrastructure more efficient, equitable, and satisfying to the school districts.

There are numerous ways technology influences school transportation to be better, some of them are:

• E-School Buses and Hybrid Electric buses:

E-School Bus and Hybrid Electric school bus can prove to be game changers in this industry, provided governments can incentivize the high acquisition costs. E- School buses use electric batteries rather than fossil fuels, so have zero tailpipe emissions, a quieter commute, substantially lower maintenance requirements and are ideally suited for school buses which ply on more or less fixed routes. Hybrid Electric buses use a combination of conventional combustion engine and battery electric technologies. It is innovative because it helps to mitigate the disadvantages of fossil fuel as well as the current limitations of limited range electric batteries.

• In-Depth Diagnostics:

Advanced sensors can alert drivers in case of engine faults, damaged indicator lights, or issues with oil tanks, transmission or exhaust systems. This ensures more accurate and timely repairs and avoids breakdowns and high maintenance expenses down the line.

• Advanced Telematics:

A host of sensor-based detection systems are now available to ensure safety in school buses. Motion-sensors detect the smallest of movements inside the bus, ensuring no child gets left behind; temperature sensors ensures that inside temperatures are never above the tolerable limits; sensors for seat belt use, door opening and closing, stop sign and stop arm functioning, speed control and engine idle time etc. help to conduct pre trip checks.

• Video Surveillance:

Advanced digital cameras provide a more comprehensive coverage of the school bus interiors, which helps to record, monitor and investigate unruly student behavior and bullying of smaller children.

• 360° Cameras:

20% of all accidents involving children and pedestrians happen in the area surrounding the school buses, usually in the driver blind-spots. This system comprises four high resolution wide angled cameras that provide a full bird’s eye view of the entire bus perimeter by stitching together the four views instead of multiple split screens that confuse drivers.

• Timer Based Block Heaters:

These mechanisms use electricity to warm up engines as well as bus interiors, which eliminates the need for idling the engine, reduces emissions and enables a safer, more comfortable commute for the driver and school children.

• Electronic Stability Control Systems:

This system anticipates a loss of control or rollover situation. In case the stability threshold is crossed, the system applies the brakes and removes the throttle.

• Collision Mitigation Systems:

Studies have portrayed that over 90% of accidents are caused by driver negligence, distraction or drowsiness. This system involves the use of radar technology to detect metallic objects up to 500 feet in front. It gives out alerts and applies automatic brakes if the driver fails to act. Some systems even have pedestrians and cyclist detection and headway monitoring, to avoid tailgating. Research has shown that these measures can reduce accidents by up to 75%.

• Lane departure warning and Lane Assist systems:

They use a motion camera to detect lane markings, detect the vehicle position, and warn the driver when the bus starts to drift out of the lane. If the driver fails to notice, the system automatically steers the vehicle back in line.

• 10. Intelligent Speed Assistance:

Speeding is one of three major contributors to accidental deaths on the roads. This system uses GPS linked speed limit data or speed sign recognition cameras to advise drivers of the speed limits and can even automatically cut off the acceleration.

• In-wheel Alcohol Detection:

Bio-Sensors on steering wheels can detect the presence of alcohol in the driver’s blood, simply through touch. If alcohol levels are more than pre-set limits, the vehicle is immobilized, and the transport manager is alerted.

• Traction control systems:

In harsh winter conditions, when roads are covered in ice or snow, spouts in front of wheels can drop sand on the roads to increase traction, or in extreme conditions, simply cover the wheels with snow chains. On-spot traction control systems consist of small wheels fitted with several snow chains, which are lowered onto the driving wheels at the switch of a button, instantly improving the grip of the vehicle.

• Driver Tablets:

They greatly empower drivers, eliminate paperwork, and simplify the process of receiving route plans, checking student onboarding and offboarding, conducting pre-checks, and reporting.

• Filtered Wi-fi:

Students spend a minimum of an hour every day on their commutes. Now school buses can be fitted with routers for students to access the internet via public networks. Filtered Wi-Fi ensures that they use the internet for educational purposes and avoid noisy behavior that could distract the driver.

• NFC Cards:

School transportation solutions like Loqqat, produces NFC cards that are scanned by the students on pickups and drops which triggers notifications on the phones of parents, informing them simultaneously.

School transportation can be taken to the next level with the integration of technology and transportation solutions like Loqqat are certainly something you don’t want to miss out on.