Understanding AIS-140 – An overview

Understanding AIS-140 - An overview

With smart cities becoming increasingly popular in India, Intelligent Transport Systems (ITS) that revolutionize urban mobility should also receive attention. The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) is making strides to improve user safety by introducing AIS-140.

Though the process began back in 2014, primarily due to a need to see public transport’s safety improved, the regulation took official shape only in May 2017. Numerous auto-parts and device manufacturers have made AIS-140 compliant devices since then.

What does AIS-140 mean?

AIS-140 identifies the safety systems required on public transportation and commercial vehicles, and was introduced by the Automotive Research Association of India (ARAI). Immediately following its issuance, the MoRTH announced that all vehicles would have to be equipped with it by April, 2018 to create an intelligent transportation network that will benefit citizens.

Now, let’s talk about AIS-140 in more detail. In accordance with the AIS-140, all public transportation and commercial vehicles should have:

Ability to transmit location information and other vehicle performance data in real-time
An emergency button or two in the vehicle

As part of AIS-140 compliance, the device has to meet the following requirements:

The device transmits data regarding position, velocity, and time using a GSM/GPRS network (government-approved).
Data should be sent to at least two different IP addresses (minimum) and a third address for an emergency response system.
The alarm should notify a preconfigured IP address of an emergency.
A four-hour power backup built into the device.
The device maintains a minimum configuration requirement, has a data storage and forwarding mechanism, and supports over-the-air updates.

What types of vehicles must comply with AIS-140?

Public vehicles, whether operated by the government or private entities, must comply with AIS-140

Public transportation systems within cities
Transport systems that connect cities
Transport for emergency management
Owners of cars and buses
Buses and cabs for employee transportation
Companies that provide taxi-hailing services
Bus fleets or carpools for schools

How does AIS-140 benefit you?

AIS-140 aims to ensure vehicle safety and improve public transport systems by introducing a degree of intelligence. Upon compliance by all public vehicles, we will be able to:

Ensure passenger safety

Nirbhaya incident in 2012 was one of the major triggers for the government to start enforcing safety measures on public transport vehicles. In order to respond quickly to criminal incidents, panic buttons and GPS tracking features would be thus crucial.

Improve public transport

AIS-140 will enhance public transport operations through real-time location tracking. The first set of benefits will be optimizing routes, regulating traffic, and ensuring that vehicles arrive on time. Furthermore, people may be able to create services that keep them informed of the traffic situation and arrival and departure times.

Monitor driver behaviour

The use of AIS-140 compliant devices makes it possible to identify whether a vehicle or its driver is complying with the needed traffic rules. Driving habits such as overspeeding, idling engines, and drunken or rash driving can all be tracked if a vehicle is AIS-140 compliant, which will help curb road accidents.

Improve vehicle performance

Monitoring performance metrics for vehicles is also part of the regulation. A range of data collected regarding speed, fuel consumption, engine performance, air pressure, is available for sharing with drivers and fleet operators. In addition to preventing vehicles from being stranded, this can help ensure timely repairs and services.

The ending note

We will have an interconnected network of transport services once all public and commercial transportation services are brought under AIS-140. In this way, public transportation could become intelligent, convenient, and stress-free.

TraxSmart manufactures its own AIS140 devices and they are certified by ARAI Pune, so we are well on our way to meeting this goal. With our telematics specialists ready to help OEMs, fleet owners, or even GPS resellers offering AIS-140 compliant services, we strive to ensure the safety and efficiency of vehicles and their owners.

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