Siemens Communications has signed an agreement to join the eCall Initiative (Emergency Call), an EU-wide organisation of representatives from industry and politics which champions the introduction of a European emergency call system (eCall) on the roads.
Its aspiration is that by the year 2009 every vehicle in Europe should be fitted with an on-board emergency call system that sends an emergency signal either automatically or manually to the ambulance, police and fire services in the event of an accident. Siemens will contribute its expertise with respect to mobile radio systems and radio modules.
The emergency call system (eCall) of the future will be triggered either manually by the occupants of the vehicle or automatically by the activation of sensors in the vehicle itself. Immediately after sending the alarm, the built-in system sets up a direct voice connection to the emergency call centre responsible and sends important data about the accident, such as its precise location.
"Through its many years of experience in developing GSM/GPRS and Edge radio modules specifically for the automobile industry, Siemens can make a substantial contribution to ensuring the success of the initiative and improving security on the streets," said Jose Costa e Silva, head of the Wireless Modules division at Siemens Communications.
The standards and specifications for the eCall system should be defined by the end of 2005. Field tests will follow in 2006, and from 2009 all new vehicles will be equipped with the eCall technology. The uniform European emergency call (E-112) should then come into operation with added location data.
The eCall protagonists do however point out that the system can only function if the emergency services of the member states set up their emergency call centres in such a way that they can also process the eCall minimum set of data from 2007 at the latest. This means they all need to pull together.
The founders of the eCall Consortium are the EU Commission along with the European Automobile Manufacturers Association (ACEA) and ERTICO, a public/private partnership for the introduction of intelligent transport systems and services in Europe.
For more information contact Jose Machado, Siemens Southern Africa, +27 (0)11 652 2000.
Buy a Fluke, get one free 28 October 2020, Comtest
, News
Comtest, Fluke’s official South African importer, is offering one free Fluke for every Fluke purchased from any South African-based, authorised Fluke dealer. Fluke is a world leader in the manufacture, ...
Read more...Online Ohm’s law calculator from Mouser 28 October 2020
, News
The famous Ohm’s law states that the current flowing through a circuit is proportional to the voltage applied across both points. Mouser Electronics’ online Ohm’s law calculator saves engineers time by ...
Read more...From the editor's desk: Where monsters, viruses and technology meet 25 November 2020, Technews Publishing
, News
I clearly remember the moment it really sank in that the world as we know it has become almost unrecognisable from a year ago. It would be hard not to remember really, because it happened only two days ...
Read more...Clearing the Static: ESD training and compliance 25 November 2020, Actum Group
, News
According to Desco Industries, electrostatic discharge (ESD) can change the electrical characteristics of a semiconductor device, degrading or destroying it entirely. ESD could also potentially damage ...
Read more...SA project receives international energy award 25 November 2020
, News
South Africa’s largest energy efficiency initiative, the SA Industrial Energy Efficiency Project, has won the highest international accolade for an energy programme – the International Energy Project ...
Read more...Intelsat brings space STEM to students in Africa 25 November 2020
, News
Intelsat is partnering with XinaBox to deliver space-focused science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) learning tools to teenagers across the African continent.
Intelsat is sponsoring ...
Read more...DesignSpark racks up one million members 25 November 2020
, News
RS Components recently marked a significant milestone when its DesignSpark engineering platform surpassed one million members.
This comes just a few months after DesignSpark celebrated ten years of ...
Read more...Personality profile: Dereck Styane 25 November 2020, Phoenix Contact
, Editor's Choice, News
“We do try and develop people and promote them from within the company, so I savour people’s personal growth that I’ve overseen.”
Read more...MTN and Siyavula enabling maths and science learners 25 November 2020
, News
Lockdown or no lockdown, South African learners will do what it takes to ensure that they are ready for their year-end exams. So says the MTN SA Foundation, which partnered with digital teaching and learning ...
Read more...Production Logix appoints new business development manager 25 November 2020, Production Logix
, News
KwaZulu-Natal based electronics contract manufacturer, Production Logix, is broadening its scope and sharpening its focus as it expands its footprint across South Africa and into southern Africa. As part ...
printer friendly version