Enigma launches new RFID tagging systems for drivers and passengers

The new e-driver and e-pass systems both use passive RFID technology to track vehicle users and passengers, respectively, utilising RFID tags in a variety of formats such as plastic teardrop, stick-on or credit card/ID cards. Both systems are based on Enigma's latest generation Skyline v6.1 satellite vehicle tracking, security and telematics system in use in over 600 businesses worldwide.

In the Skyline e-driver system already in use in the UK, the vehicle is equipped with an SK110/SK120 compact vehicle tracker from Enigma with an RFID reader. The vehicle will not start unless the driver's tag is presented and once the tag ID is read and accepted, the driver name is mapped on to the Skyline server and the driver for the period the vehicle is being used is always known.

This system helps to overcome problems in single vehicle/multi-driver scenarios where vehicles are shared by a variety of people. It can also prevent use of the vehicles by unauthorised drivers. Using the sophisticated reporting suite in Skyline v6.1, operators can now see who was in a vehicle, for how long and where the vehicle was taken. The traceability of drivers afforded by the Skyline e-driver system allows managers to ensure compliance with an organisation's vehicle use and safety rules and enforce these if necessary. The e-driver system also provides a useful audit trail to enable traffic violations such as speeding/illegal parking and accidents caused by bad driving to be traced to the driver.

In the Skyline e-pass system, developed specifically for the passenger transit market and tested extensively with worker buses in the Middle East, each authorised passenger is provided with a unique tag that is used when entering or exiting the vehicle. Only those passengers with a tag can travel and this is controlled by the driver. In addition, every tag-carrying passenger has their name mapped to the tag using the e-bus software option from Enigma.

Using the SK110/SK120 connected to an RFID reader, the system calculates the number of passengers per trip, their names, time of entry and exit and can be further integrated with time and attendance software or trip calculations. In addition, bus journeys can be monitored, events such as late arrival or excessive speed recorded and most importantly, utilisation can be calculated. A combination of the Skyline e-driver and e-pass systems is particularly useful on large sites, such as process plants or construction sites, where bus fleets are used to transport staff and construction workers to and from work and around the site.

All e-driver tags are compatible with e-pass tags and this allows them to be deployed site-wide. The systems together give the identities of both the drivers and passengers using the buses on site, allowing companies to monitor and optimise the use of the bus fleet based on utilisation data.

In the case of the passengers, site managers have a dedicated passenger manifest for each trip on a vehicle by vehicle basis, with the knowledge of who is at work and who has left site. In the case of an accident, knowledge of the passengers' identities allows notification to be passed to relatives and access to employee health records for treatment-sensitive information such as blood type, allergies, religion and so on.

Underpinning e-driver and e-pass, the Skyline v6.1 advanced GPS system from Enigma, offers faster response, better functionality and enhanced flexibility through increased data analysis features. The universal design of the system allows it to be used simultaneously by customers in Europe, the Middle East, Africa, the Near and Far East and the Americas.

In use in diverse industries from major equipment rental companies including A-Plant in the UK, large transport operators such as P & O Ferries and Kenya Airways to car rental fleet operators such as Dollar and Thrifty, the unique combination of tracking and telematics capability in Skyline has provided astonishing results. For example, the recovery rate for stolen plant fitted with Skyline at one of the leading rental companies is running in excess of 95%.

As well as fully integrated Google road, satellite and hybrid maps, Skyline v6.0 ensures that each vehicle or piece of plant remains in contact with the server 24/7 so status is available to Enigma users at all times.

Additionally they can request positions, add zones around equipment and vehicles (for additional theft protection) and monitor hours used (per rental or accumulatively). The Skyline system will report vehicle movements (authorised or unauthorised), tamper, ignition state and a host of other data via eight input/output ports that can be used for monitoring additional sensors. These may be fuel level, battery level, coolant, engine running/not running, engine covers open/closed and so on. Each system can be customised to provide the security and telemetry data required by both the customer and user.

Other options available on the Skyline system are:
- Optional keypad immobiliser with remote immobilisation feature.
- Text polling from mobile phone.
- PDA access with street level images.
- Lone Worker Protection.
- Portable, personal tracking with voice capability.