Hummingbird finalist in HMA Awards 2020
Hummingbird Electronics is proud to have been named as a finalist in this year’s Hunter Manufacturing Awards (HMA) for the Collaboration Partnership Award.
Hummingbird entered the category for their collaboration with Teletrac Navman to deliver the EDR2 (Electronic Distance Recorder) to the New Zealand market.
The collaboration between Hummingbird and Teletrac Navman began four years ago with the development of the EDR1, a device fitted to the heavy-vehicle’s dash to accurately monitor its usage and help customers manage their New Zealand Transport Agency (NZTA) licence requirements.
For version 2, the challenge given to Hummingbird’s engineers was to design a low impact, simple to install device that could fit to the trailer’s axle, as such the device needed to be ruggedised to withstand the rigours of transport. It needed to include smart features such as a self-charging internal battery that could harnesses power from the wheel rotation making it completely self-sufficient with no requirement of external wiring and no interference with the trailer ABS, EBS or other systems.
Image: EDR2 installed on wheel
Released in July 2020 the EDR2 met these challenges. The innovation uses GPS technologies and wheel rotation measurements to track the location of heavy-trailers and measure their distance travelled. Such to the benefit of the heavy vehicle industry, the EDR2 also creates efficiencies by automating the recharge of RUC (road user charges) licences, including calculating off-road rebates for heavy trailers, and tracking their location independently of prime movers. Being mounted on the trailer axle, the device does not interfere with basic maintenance such as changing tyres.
Anthony Kittel, Managing Director of Hummingbird and REDARC Electronics said, “We’re extremely proud to have designed and manufactured the Electronic Distance Recorder, EDR2 which simultaneously creates system efficiencies for managing RUC licences and maintenance requirements whilst meeting the needs of New Zealand’s heavy-vehicle industry. It was a very technically challenging engineering project due to the harsh conditions experienced in the field and I am very proud of the solution created by this collaborative effort.”
The HMA Award winners will be announced on the 23rd of October 2020 at the Merewether Surfhouse, Newcastle, NSW, Australia.
For more information about the HMA Awards visit hma.org.au
For more information about the release of the EDR2 Electronic Distance Recorder visit teletracnavman.co.nz
For more information about Hummingbird Electronics please visit hmbe.com.au