PAKO Technologies Making Intelligent Transportation a Reality
Still in its nascent stage in developingcountries like India, Intelligent Transportation System (ITS),an integrated system is being gradually implemented across the traffic-plagued streets. These systems are globally approved as they optimize the utilization of the existing transport infrastructure and enhance the transportation systems in terms of quality, efficiency,comfort,and safety. It leverages a wide range of communication, control, vehicle sensing and electronics technologies to solve and effectively manage the consistent traffic problems. Recognizing the gamut of benefits it has to offer, the Government of India (GoI) mandated that all public transport vehicles manufactured post-2014 must be fitted with an Intelligent Transportation System. The systems were bound with the Urban Bus Standards Specifications; second version (UBS-II) released that year. The specification required not only multi camera live view and recording system but also demanded multiple communication interfaces like WiFi and 3G. An audio interface, USB ports, a touch screen display were part of the list of requirements. Additionally, the system had to be sturdy enough to withstand 85 degrees operating zero humidity for 16 hours and insisted on an IP-65 rating thereby demanding the system to be fan-less. The standard also necessitated a battery of certifications to be passed through ARAI.
While the vendors in this domain witnessed a huge struggle to adapt their systems to the UBS II standard, PAKO Technologies, situated in Pune, was one of the first companies to launch a product within just two months post GoI mandating the standard. Aligning to the ‘Design and Make in India’ initiative, their success is attributed to the foresight shown by the technologically skilled development and product innovation team. “PAKO Technologies has since sold more than 6000 systems of it’s ITS offering. Since then, the team has designed and certified two next-generation versions of the ITS product line,” reveals Vinayak Pandit, CEO at PAKO Technologies and a veteran in the domain of automation, healthcare, special purpose machine manufacturing industry, complex computing and defense industry across India. PAKO has further invested in re-engineering the same product specifically from the cost-reduction perspective, while simultaneously increasing the capabilities of the product.
While the transport and Vehicle OEMs sector have begun adopting ITS solutions, they encounter a gamut of challenges that need to be addressed. Some of the topmost challenges being that customers are on the look-out for vendors with tailor-madehardware/software solutions, maintenance poses as a major challenge, lack of awareness of the consumer’s requirements of convenience & User Experience and finally, lack of knowledge to implement the specified standards in a holistic manner. Perfectly understanding the afore mentioned dilemmas, the team leverage their vast industry rich expertise and engineer their hardware/software offerings taking into account the compliance needs as well as providing additional features which are required by the transport sector. This is achieved by adopting a consultative approach with every customer where the core objective is to study the customer’s needs and provide the right solution at the right price rather than ‘selling the company’s inventory of products at M.R.P.’
Offering a Comprehensive Suite of Services
An end-to- end solution provider in the ITS domain, PAKO has invested in a DIY-IoT-M2M Application Development and Deployment Platform. This platform is completely configurable and customizable. “Most importantly it is device agnostic and can support any device communication in the world,” Informs an enthusiastic Vinayak. With close to two decades of expertise in the product conception, design and manufacturing sector, PAKO extends its services with cutting-edge solutions, which include, the ITS and VTS Devices as well as the Server side IOT platform and applications. Developing hardware and software products aligned to the Industry 4.0 philosophy, PAKO provides a host of technology solutions to a broad range of industry verticals; In Bus Intelligent Transport System which is compliant to UBS-II, VTS device that is compliant to AIS-140, Red Light Violation detection system, parking assistance systems, Advanced Driver Assistance Systems, signage solutions and cloud-based ITS platform. These innovative products have been meticulously designed in an extensible manner permitting an adaptation to a much larger number of application areas. “The hardware products, both automotive as well as other rugged systems are rigorously tested in our in-house ESS and other test equipment ensuring a smooth certification process,” adds Vinayak.
Feature-rich and Economical Solutions
With a proven track record, the company has carved a niche for
themselves in this sector and credit their success to the set process the company has put in place.
with cross-industry expertise, the team is fully aware of the pivotal role design plays in developing the desired product. Keeping up with trending technologies, the team begins with conducting an interaction with the customer to attain and map out the complete product requirements. This allows feature and consequently cost optimization early on in the development phase.
The company’s wide range of memberships to a plethora of organizations like IPC grants access to a comprehensive set of standards that are demanded to be complied with by products designed for the various domains. “The access to standards means that the product’s compliance requirements are not compromised while optimizing cost,” explains Vinayak. Additionally, the company has continually invested in Research & Development since 2012 in order to adopt advanced technologies to bring down the cost of the solutions immensely while improving the richness of the features.
The cost, feature and adaptability matrix is optimally managed by a number of internally developed and set procedures. This is usually supported by an all-encompassing charting of a broad spectrum of scenarios that may arise in a typical product development environment. A centrally maintained version controlled, tightly access managed system permits complete version review that can be accessed at any point of time in the product’s development phase thereby assuring smooth teamwork.
In conjunction with this, PAKO has an in-house support team of engineers with deep technical expertise in product design that not only strives to repair but works towards locating the root cause, improves the product design and ships back the product in the shortest turnaround time.
Maintaining their leadership position in India as experts in programmable engine and transmission control unit firmware, PAKO is working towards becoming a ‘One Stop Shop’ for all the customer needs with offerings that encompass all crucial aspects of an automobile such as navigation, safety, driver assistance, passenger comfort, entertainment units and integrated dashboard systems. Striving to attain a leadership position in this domain with their expertise and novel solutions, the company should be launching soon its PCB and Electronic Product Manufacturing setup in Hinjewadi that is spread across five acres. Additionally, PAKO has recently invested in the IoT-M2M Platform software and is in the process of building integrated IOT Application solutions in the area of Transport, Building management, Smart Factory and Smart city segments.
A Systems-driven Approach to Product Development
Founded in 2000, the company boasts of a select team of technically adept engineers that work with the client to understand their needs and requirements and shape those ideas into indispensable products. PAKO possesses in-house manufacturing capabilities that encompass a dynamic range of system integration expertise. Having catered to a gamut of renowned clientele in this sector for close to two decades, the experience gained in this area has given a raise to a database containing large number of usage scenarios, inter-component compatibility issues, operating system expertise as well as customization expertise for certain operating systems. In addition to this, PAKO has forged various partnerships and alliances that have assisted in securing an in-depth understanding of various processes involved in PCB, PCBA and other activities required for manufacturing of a cost and quality-controlled product proficient at withstanding the rigors of automotive and similar environments.
The company is sufficiently geared with in-house 3D printing capabilities that translate to quick prototyping of nearly all additive process manufacturable components. Vinayak says, “Additionally, the thermal management issues that plague rugged systems are addressed at an early stage through design simulation and analysis of actual prototypes by personnel specialized in appropriate areas.” The in-house ESS and vibration test set up and other equipment are utilized during the prototype stage to perceive feasibility of using certain materials in specific cases. This allows for a fast feasibility study before committing to a particular material or design.
with cross-industry expertise, the team is fully aware of the pivotal role design plays in developing the desired product. Keeping up with trending technologies, the team begins with conducting an interaction with the customer to attain and map out the complete product requirements. This allows feature and consequently cost optimization early on in the development phase.
The Hardware Products, Both Automotive as well as Other Rugged Systems are Rigorously Tested In Our In-House Ess and Other Test Equipment Ensuring A Smooth Certification Process
The company’s wide range of memberships to a plethora of organizations like IPC grants access to a comprehensive set of standards that are demanded to be complied with by products designed for the various domains. “The access to standards means that the product’s compliance requirements are not compromised while optimizing cost,” explains Vinayak. Additionally, the company has continually invested in Research & Development since 2012 in order to adopt advanced technologies to bring down the cost of the solutions immensely while improving the richness of the features.
The cost, feature and adaptability matrix is optimally managed by a number of internally developed and set procedures. This is usually supported by an all-encompassing charting of a broad spectrum of scenarios that may arise in a typical product development environment. A centrally maintained version controlled, tightly access managed system permits complete version review that can be accessed at any point of time in the product’s development phase thereby assuring smooth teamwork.
In conjunction with this, PAKO has an in-house support team of engineers with deep technical expertise in product design that not only strives to repair but works towards locating the root cause, improves the product design and ships back the product in the shortest turnaround time.
Maintaining their leadership position in India as experts in programmable engine and transmission control unit firmware, PAKO is working towards becoming a ‘One Stop Shop’ for all the customer needs with offerings that encompass all crucial aspects of an automobile such as navigation, safety, driver assistance, passenger comfort, entertainment units and integrated dashboard systems. Striving to attain a leadership position in this domain with their expertise and novel solutions, the company should be launching soon its PCB and Electronic Product Manufacturing setup in Hinjewadi that is spread across five acres. Additionally, PAKO has recently invested in the IoT-M2M Platform software and is in the process of building integrated IOT Application solutions in the area of Transport, Building management, Smart Factory and Smart city segments.
A Systems-driven Approach to Product Development
Founded in 2000, the company boasts of a select team of technically adept engineers that work with the client to understand their needs and requirements and shape those ideas into indispensable products. PAKO possesses in-house manufacturing capabilities that encompass a dynamic range of system integration expertise. Having catered to a gamut of renowned clientele in this sector for close to two decades, the experience gained in this area has given a raise to a database containing large number of usage scenarios, inter-component compatibility issues, operating system expertise as well as customization expertise for certain operating systems. In addition to this, PAKO has forged various partnerships and alliances that have assisted in securing an in-depth understanding of various processes involved in PCB, PCBA and other activities required for manufacturing of a cost and quality-controlled product proficient at withstanding the rigors of automotive and similar environments.
The company is sufficiently geared with in-house 3D printing capabilities that translate to quick prototyping of nearly all additive process manufacturable components. Vinayak says, “Additionally, the thermal management issues that plague rugged systems are addressed at an early stage through design simulation and analysis of actual prototypes by personnel specialized in appropriate areas.” The in-house ESS and vibration test set up and other equipment are utilized during the prototype stage to perceive feasibility of using certain materials in specific cases. This allows for a fast feasibility study before committing to a particular material or design.
