It’s dizzying the number of technological innovations on display at the 2015 NAPT Summit, especially from one manufacturer that got its 100th anniversary celebration off to an early yet raucous start.
Aside from NHTSA Administrator Mark Rosekind’s three-point seat belt announcement, Thomas Built Buses took first prize with the sheer amount of news in Richmond, Virginia, on its disruptive technology, almost as much as with the two owl mascots that perched at the company’s booth — and on company President and CEO Caley Edgerly’s arm — as well as the popular driver simulator at the trade show booth.
“I thought you were going to roll the bus,” a representative commented to an attendee who was trying his hands, literally, behind the wheel.
“I know, I didn’t see that curve until I was right up on it,” was the reply.
An NAPT trade show attendee navigates the driver simulator at the Thomas exhibit space.The simulator from Meritor Wabco encompasses many of the new or expanded features offered by Thomas and its partners. The owls were on hand to tie in with the logo of the company’s new BusWise Technologies, a massive suite now available fon the Saf-T-Liner C2 and for order on other Thomas models that altogether is recreating the look of the traditional yellow school bus. Mind you, the vehicles look essentially the same but what is changing is the visibility for bus operators in more ways than one.
BusWise includes a state-of-the-art warning system developed in partnership with Mobileye and Pana-Pacific as a factory-installed option now available on the Saf-T-Liner C2. Mobileye assists the driver in avoiding forward collisions, alerts the driver about the presence of pedestrians and cyclists nearby and provides a lane departure warning. It is the first true evidence that safety options available in passenger vehicles have made their way to the school bus. Mobileye also offers a speed limit indicator and headway monitoring function.
“The Mobileye Aftermarket system will greatly enhance the safety of students and drivers on our buses,” said Tracy Mack-Askew, vice president of engineering for Thomas Built Buses. “Mobileye Aftermarket offers a collision warning system that will give bus drivers an additional level of support so they can be even more aware of potential threats on the road. The effectiveness of its alerts and its success in other markets make this partnership and new technology a must.”
As Mobileye reduced crashes by 15 percent for customer Coca Cola HBC, the second largest global bottler for the brand, Mack-Askew said Thomas hopes to use the same technology to help school districts with bus driver training.
Edgerly added that the option is one of many that is “raising the bar” in terms of not only vehicle durability and driver safety but industry expectations.
Much of the BusWise technology is powered by Zonar Systems, which Thomas announced last year that it was expanding its partnership with to offer factory-installed telematics on the C2. Then this year, Thomas parent Daimler Trucks North America announced it had become a minority investor in Zonar to further optimize logistics through intelligent connectivity. The latest announcement signals the fleet telematics will be fully integrated in the Type D Saf-T-Liner HDX and Saf-T-Liner EFX as well as the Type A Minotour, with production set to begin next year.
Thomas President and CEO Caley Edgerly announced the arrival of BusWise technology with the help of a feathered friend.Buswise fully integrates with Zonar’s customizable tracking and operations solutions to provide critical real-time information to transportation directors and technicians, including the RFID-based Z Pass student tracking hardware and software and Electronic Vehicle Inspection Reporting. All data is at the hands of bus drivers via the mountable Zonar 2020 tablet, which is rendered inoperable during vehicle operation.
Zonar is also delivery its driver monitoring system that provides real- time alerts for speeding, excessive idling, hard acceleration, braking, cornering and out-of-route miles, which Thomas said can lessen fuel economy. Altogether, Edgerly said Zonar is providing “actionable telematics data” on vehicle performance and health.
“Regardless of which system BusWise is monitoring, whether vehicle performance or driver behavior, Zonar will allow with real-time alerts, the identification of corrective actions needed,” he explained.
From the eye-test perspective, BusWise incorporates a backup camera that is imbedded into the rearview mirror and video monitors around the bus with Mito Corporation’s Perimeter View 360, a 360-degree, multi-view camera that provides a bird’s eye view looking down on the bus and all around it. Positioning small cameras at specific locations around the bus provide drivers with the ability to see the danger zone at bus stops in ways previously impossible. Thomas added that the PV360 camera can also assist with navigating tight spots on a route.
If that all wasn’t enough, Thomas also announced BusWise monitors tire pressure, driver seat belts usage, door opening and closing, wheelchair lift activation, stop-arm operation and the parking brake. It offers SmartTrac Electronic Stability Control from Meritor WABCO and also makes Thomas models Wi-Fi ready.
The High Point, North Carolina manufacturer has certainly come a long way, baby, since Perley A. Thomas started the company in 1916 building streetcars. In its NAPT exhibitor space, Thomas also displayed the 75,000th C2 it has produced, which it delivered to contractor Bishop Bus Service in Lusby, Maryland.
“Our focus is on getting students safely to school every single day in the most dependable and technologically advanced school buses available,” said Edgerly. “Every chapter of our history hallmarks our emphasis on safety, reliability and innovation.”
