Cisco adds wireless power to Ashok Leyland's iBus2

NEW DELHI, INDIA: Network equipment maker Cisco Systems Inc and commercial vehicle manufacturer Ashok Leyland today signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to develop sector-specific solutions that will enable vehicle-to-infrastructure communication.

As part of this MoU, Ashok Leyland and Cisco unveiled iBus2, the vehicle with wireless connectivity, at the  Auto Expo 2010 here.

The wireless enterprise

While announcing the tie-up, A Sheshadri, deputy general manager, mission summit, Ashok Leyland, said vehicles in future are going to be intelligent.

“Our iBus is the beginning of that era. In case of emergency situation, iBus2 can be used as emergency response vehicle. It can be used to deliver medical services on the spot and simultaneously it can be set for command centre,” said A Sheshadri, deputy general manager, mission summit, Ashok Leyland.

He said government and defence sectors are the initial target of Ashok Leyland for iBus2. 

Cisco has designed the entire communication system on the iBus platform. The health application, 'Smart+Connected Health Solutions', provided in iBus2, will need connectivity speed ranging between 5 to 12 kbps. The other application, 'Cisco Smart+Connected Safety and Security solutions', which has been projected as command system, will need bandwidth of 4 mbps.

Though it will be easy to provide connectivity to health application in iBus2 through mobile network, for its connected safety and security solution, Cisco says, it will connect iBus2 with VSAT service if demand for this application arises.

“We have developed the platform and will connect it with VSAT if our client demands. This iBus2 shows that we are ready for emergency mobile services. We can add more things to it and customize the bus as per demand,” said Naresh Balwant Wadhwa, president and country manager, Cisco Systems (India).

Ashok Leyland had, last year, launched its first iBus which provided clutch-free gear change facility to driver and enabled him to see all action in the bus with the rear view camera. The bus launched last year had introduced executive class in it and had panel to run advertisement on it. The company has plans to launch different model of iBus in the coming year, each on a different theme.

“This is the platform which we have showcased. We will customize the application shown in iBus2 as per the need of the organization. We will provide vehicle as platform and the rest of the application equipment and connectivity will be provided by Cisco,” said Sheshadri.