Partner News: Swiss on-board unit project slightly delayed

Date: 22 February 2008

Integration test rescheduled for replacement heavy vehicle on-board charge units.
 
The project CH-OBU-2, which started in 2003 and aims to replace the current mileage-related heavy vehicle charge on-board units in Switzerland, has moved into the test phase.
 
Initial situation
The current mileage-related heavy vehicle charge on-board units (TRIPON) were produced by the Fela/Ascom Consortium in 2000. Since then most of these have been in-stalled in commercial vehicles. They reliably record the mileage and other information for the purposes of the mileage-related heavy vehicle charge survey.
 
Due to the limited life span of the on-board units the CH-OBU-2 project was started. Awarded to Siemens Switzerland, the contract, within the scope of a GATT/WTO ten-der, called for the introduction of new on-board units from 2008 on.
 
Along with the new on-board units (emotach), the contract volume also includes a new start-up and maintenance software including hardware for this software (laptops and connection testers) in the mileage-related heavy vehicle charge assembly points, in addition to analysis software (expert system) and the software for electronic transmission of the declaration data of the operator (operator software).
 
Current project status
The design phase for all components was successfully concluded. The specifications were in part drawn up and defined jointly. The goal was, in contrast to the current system, to incorporate improvements, to simplify and to eliminate existing faults. The contract was given to a "general contractor" with the goal of having the interfaces sup-plied by the same company.
 
The first new on-board units were supplied punctually on 14 September 2007. Thereby the first series of tests (component tests) were started punctually. Now all components will be individually tested successively up to the end of December 2007. The tests will primarily be conducted by Siemens itself. The Directorate General of Customs will monitor individual tests independently.
 
The tests will be carried out on a disused airfield in Interlaken. The Directorate General of Customs was able to set up a test facility here for the radio interface (DSRC). In this test facility are set up all the beacons utilised in the mileage-related heavy vehicle charge system and can thus be tested away from free-flowing traffic.
 
Integration test
By synchronising all the sub-projects, the start of the integration test has been rescheduled compared to the original plan by approximately seven months. Synchronising occurs so that quality control is ensured, in this way all the components are able to be amply tested together before the field tests take place. The deadlines up to now were very tightly set and the testing stage was brief.

The initial chain of tests should begin in August 2008. All individual components are connected to each other in this phase and entire operational procedures will be tested. Preparations are already underway so that this series of tests can be started on time. It is also planned to install the first appliances in vehicles which will be operating in real-life situations.

During the integration test other components will be integrated. This way for example declaration data transmission to and from the Directorate General of Customs will be tested. In addition data storage and its preparation for further processing will be incorporated into the tests.

Field test
Provided that all the components tested positive in the integration test, from January 2009 a big field test with approximately 800 vehicles will be carried out. To this end, the TRIPON (CH-OBU-1) will be removed and replaced by the emotach (CH-OBU-2). It should be noted that the on-board unit swap will occur under the present system, this operation is similar to open-heart surgery because current operation and collection of data in the mileage-related heavy vehicle charge system must be guaranteed at all times.

Outlook
Due to the fact that numerous interfaces are affected by the modifications, coordination between those involved is essential. The close cooperation of all participants should not entail any further deadline shifts and should allow CH-OBU-2 to be introduced on time in the final quarter of 2009.

For all users of the system (drivers, operators, assembly point personnel) little will change with the introduction of the new on-board unit. The working procedures will only undergo slight changes which should be interpreted as improvements.

Summary
The project is still on course. In accordance with present understanding the current on-board units can be utilised without restriction up to the definitive conversion in 2011. Further postponements are not expected.

For further information, please visit the ERTICO - ITS Europe Partner Swiss Federal Customs Administration website at www.ezv.admin.ch