Vehicle tracking evaluated

u-blox and Rohde & Schwarz have concluded tests of u-blox’s Leon GSM modem for eCall/ERA Glonass readiness, an EU and Russian initiative to capitalise on GSM and GPS technologies for vehicle emergency response service.

The projects are independently led by the European Commission and the Russian government to provide rapid assistance to motorists involved in a collision anywhere in the European Union and Russia.

“To test LEON, we implemented an in-band modem test based on the radio communication tester R&S CMU200, and a PC running a public safety answering point simulator (R&S CMU-K94) according to TS 26.268.

“The results were 100% convincing,” said Markus Hendeli, product manager for Application Testing at Rohde & Schwarz.

The core functionality of eCall/ERA Glonass requires an embedded computer that continuously monitors crash sensors and a GPS receiver to initiate an automated data and voice call via a dedicated GSM modem in case of an emergency.

A key requirement for eCall is that both data and voice call must use the same physical voice channel because SMS and GPRS do not provide the necessary service priority or availability.

eCall and ERA Glonass are planned for initial implementation in 2014, backed by numerous car, truck and bus manufacturers and the European Automobile Manufacturers Association.