Sarada Vishnubhatla talks to Dr. Amit Shekhar, CEO, iGloble Software Solutions, to find out how the company is slowly yet steadily transforming the automotive world through its connected vehicle platform – the indigenously developed iotaSmart technology
Founded three years ago by like-minded professionals who are not only IIT-Roorkee graduates but also possess a treasure house of experience in developing analytics, iGloble Software Solutions (iGloble) today is a robust name not only in India but also in the US and Hong Kong. iGloble’s connected platform solution is an open architecture cloud-based platform that is driven by their proprietary neural network algorithms embedded with AI to create a digital twin. The company offers its comprehensive machine learning-enabled analytics of vehicles to transportation, automotive, aviation, shipping and insurance domains.
Advantage iGloble
iGloble offers their unique technological solution, iotaSmart platform, to two sets of customers – the bus and truck fleet owners and individual customers; and the designers of components – be it the OEMs or their tier-1 suppliers. The platform – through iotaSmart app – enables lower operational costs, lowered risks, improved safety, and offers real-time monitoring. iGloble has been able to offer fleet performance improvement by 5%, better customer service by 10%, decreased fuel usage by 6% and improved vehicle maintenance by 10% to their discerning customers.
Dr. Amit Shekhar, CEO – iGloble Software Solutions shares: “We have developed iotaSmart platform which stands for IoT as a smart solution, where our devices gather data every 1-3 seconds. The data would be, say, about rpm, fuel, short-term and long-term fuel trim, and engine load. We offer predictive analytic solutions including the driver behaviour – in the city vs on the highway, besides road and environmental conditions, ambient temperature on the tyres, gears and the brakes.”
iGloble’s competency lies in providing specific solutions to improve operational and financial efficiency of the system. A case in point is a certain SRTU that has used iGloble’s predictive analytics which has helped them save funds to the tune of about Rs. 42 crores in a short period. This is merely one of iGloble’s 3000 plus customers – both SRTUs and private logistic companies – who are equipped with tracking devices including IoT enabled ones, OBD and GPS.
“We do the analytics and come up with a predictive calendar. We have extended this platform to help the OEMs and the Tier 1s from a design to manufacture cycle perspective. The design manufacturing cycle takes 9-12 months because it includes getting the requirements from the OEMs, preparing the design and the 3D-modelling, post which simulation is performed using various parameters,” Dr. Shekhar explains.
“And then we build actual samples and do lab test or the dynamometer test using our plug-in platform. That way, we can reduce the sample size and then run the lab, physical and road tests which will reduce the overall design demand,” he adds. iGloble uses what is called the RUL or ‘remaining useful life’. RUL is obtained from the available monitoring information depending on insights received from logistics, maintenance and the like. RUL is based on the neural networks which help them predict maintenance issues.
The Special Edge
iGloble prides itself in building a SaaS-based solution on the cloud where the OEMs can choose the kind of test they wish for and the machine can offer various parameters such as the required driver behaviour, ambient temperature, short or long hauls, time duration to run the simulation, etc. The three parts of iGloble are data acquisition, predictive analysis and vehicle-to-vehicle communication. Dr. Shekhar elaborates: “Ours is a machine learning neural network iotaSmart platform and that in itself is the differentiation from our competitors. We have already built models that can ingest the data coming in from the fleets and create models. We have created this value which goes up the chain to improve the operational efficiency starting with design.”
iGloble is currently working on a pilot project for a Hong Kong-based company where they are using machine learning predictive analytics to pre-empt accidents.
He explains: “We get the data from the car which is married to the details of the driver, information on how many tickets he has received, how many accidents he has been in.” Another pilot project for another company in Hong Kong again uses iGloble’s Edge-based camera solution to track driver fatigue. Explains Dr. Shekhar: “It uses neural network to predict driver distraction which can lead to an accident. That way the driver can be alerted well in time.”
The Challenge
In Dr. Shekhar’s words, ‘it is a hard story to sell’ because data is sacrosanct to any OEM. iGloble uses their data to give back a ‘bigger piece’ of data which can be used by the client to simulate. “The other challenge is that each Tier 1 manufacturer is unique due to the ingredients used by each of them. But what we tell them is that we will resolve 80% of the issue and the remaining 20% will be taken care of by customization but on a SaaS-based platform. I think it is changing now because the right practice is happening in the industry today,” he shares.
According to Dr. Shekhar, reading the data is merely the starting point. iGloble has built a reputation for itself that is known for robust neural networks that they build which predict the failure rate. The iotaSmart platform comprises iSafe, iPredict, iGreen, iDesign, iConnect and iFleet solutions.
He elaborates: “iSafe is the intelligent camera solution that uses computer vision algorithms to predict and reduce accidents; iPredict is the predictive maintenance solution which uses neural networks based cloud platform for data acquisition and high accuracy failure predictions leading to reduced downtime; iGreen is emission monitoring and control solution that reduces emissions by 8-10%; iDesign is data-led component design solution for fault detection using machine learning and AI and it simulates real operating conditions; and iFleet is the FMS that helps clients transform data into usable information to improve operational efficiency. We can generate analytics for a variety of parameters including the driving behaviour of the driver by the time of the day, by the route taken, whether on a short or a long trip and whether he is driving on the highway or in the city– all this information is useful for the OEMs and the tier-1s. We are bringing localization into the testbed using simulation.”
Proactive Next Gen
In a cost-sensitive market like India, family-owned businesses traditionally have kept a tight rein on expenditure. As the younger generation is gradually coming into decision making roles in these businesses, companies like iGloble are rejoicing for being recognized for their value and worth – more than ever before.
Dr. Shekhar offers a perspective: “India is the land of opportunities and is the third country globally with the largest number of start-ups today. It is so because people here are willing to fish out opportunities, take more risks and bring about the much needed change. Right now, the market is in a transformational phase, especially in India. Still, there is need for more education on operational efficiencies.”
“When we talk to our customers – who are in their 20s and 30s, are educated abroad and have seen global quality of products and performances – we see them stepping up to make a definitive change.” he adds. However, the current virus pandemic has put a dampener on the industry as a whole across the world. If initially it was a wait-and-watch situation to see how the pandemic was panning out, the following phase – running currently – is all about getting the inventory out before fresh manufacturing is taken up.
Meanwhile, iGloble is positive that their world-class product will always be in demand, especially, with a ‘new normal’ way of functioning coming into being. Dr. Shekhar sounds highly confident when he says, “We are talking about 8,000 vehicles on our platform in the near future and that will happen because people will be compelled to look at operational efficiency. We are prepared for the economy to unfurl by the second quarter.”
EVs, Semi and Fully Automated Vehicles
If the industry experts are to be believed, EVs and semi and fully automated vehicles may just become a reality sooner than imagined before – as a probable part of ‘new normal’. Says Dr. Shekhar: “We are vehicle diagnostics people and we enable safer driving behaviour, which is critical for driverless cars. We help improve software efficiency in accurate driving.”
Road Ahead
iGloble’s efficient team – comprising of data scientists, electronic engineers, sales and marketing professionals – is working towards a ‘different kind’ of a paradigm shift. And they, along with their iotaSmart platform, are all ready for the ‘new normal’ future – what with the conventional business methods being deemed passe – not just because of Covid-19 but also because of the future that will consist of EVs, driverless vehicles and new emission norms.
With India as one of the fastest growing markets – especially in the post-pandemic times – for commercial and passenger vehicles, iGloble is looking at encashing the burgeoning opportunity where global customers will be looking at India for solutions. “We are definitely ready,” is how Dr. Shekhar puts it!