Award winning on-board mass measurement system released

Knorr-Bremse is the first company in Australia to launch hardware-free, on-board mass measurement system that’s compliant with the demands of Transport Certification Australia for High Productivity Freight Vehicles (HPFV).

We’re not going to get into the complex technicalities of how the Knorr-Bremse system works, other than to say it relies on feedback from air pressure in each air spring, plus information from level sensors.

Leaf-suspended front axles don’t have air springs, but the front axle mass is calculated by the system, based on the tandem rear-axle air pressures.

Knorr-Bremse is based in Germany, but has a global engineering presence, including in Australia, so was well placed to meet our unique requirement for on-board mass (OBM) measurement.

Transport Certification Australia requires OBM data in a form that can be accessed internally for fleet management and compliance purposes, as well as being accessible to the TCA, for enforcement purposes.

Road managers are using Smart OBM to introduce new access arrangements that are unlocking major productivity improvements, by expanding available road networks.

The Australian-market system was developed here, because in Europe there is a sufficient number of weight-in-motion roadside scales, to make OBM measurement unnecessary. Although some of the test modelling was done in Hungary, the bulk of the work was done in Australia.

Unlike most OBM systems the iMass kit doesn’t need additional hardware, apart from an in-cab display screen.

Knorr-Bremse said that its system accuracy is well within two per cent of a certified weighbridge’s ability to display masses for each axle group, as well as total combination mass in a heavy vehicle combination up to seven trailers in length.

iMass uses the already existing mass output from Knorr-Bremse Trailer Electronic Brake System (EBS), eliminating the need for additional trailer hardware and simplifying the product offering. In the prime mover itself, a user-friendly Driver Interface Unit (DIU) allows live mass display and troubleshooting for the prime mover and any connected trailers.

Incorporated in the DIU is a dual-CAN capability allowing it to pick up the electronic mass signal from the existing trailer CAN connection and also a signal from the Knorr-Bremse ELC Truck ECU and subsequent sensors that are fitted to the prime mover.

To meet the TCA’s Category B Smart OBM requirements, the DIU also allows a feed via an RS232 serial connection to telematics units, to transfer mass data in line with TCA requirements.

The iMass product won a prestigious award for ‘Application of Technology’ at the recent Australian Freight Industry Awards.

Gareth Lawless, sales business manager of Knorr-Bremse Australia, said: “We are excited to have completed what is a significant milestone in accomplishing the TCA Category B type-approval.

“Our focus is now firmly on preparing for the Australian market volume release of iMass.”

Trucksales is planning an in-depth feature on the complete Australian OBM situation for early in 2023.