ETAS shows innovative diagnostic solutions for commercial trucks at IAA Transportation 2024

• Shaping the next level of vehicle health with ETAS authoring and diagnostic solutions
• Value creation along the vehicle lifecycle through intelligent services based on connected data from the vehicle and the mobility cloud platform

Stuttgart, Germany, September 17, 2024 – The industry’s move toward the software-defined vehicle and vehicle computers will transform both: how vehicles are tested and programmed during manufacturing as well as how and when they will be diagnosed, maintained, and repaired. Connectivity and strong onboard computing power allow health monitoring during operation, putting more focus on information distribution and interpretation and therefore a shift into the cloud.

ETAS provides integrated authoring & diagnostic solutions with relevant repair and service data for manufacturing and workshops: connected cross-lifecycle diagnostics with automated content generation ready to go. The recently added authoring and diagnostics solutions result from an intensive cooperation between Bosch Automotive Aftermarket and ETAS.

At this year's IAA Transportation, state-of-the-art fuel cell powertrain technology from Bosch and end-to-end diagnostics solutions from ETAS can be experienced at the joint ETAS and Bosch booth. How? A demonstration will show how workshop and maintenance processes for electrical components for modern trucks, such as fuel cells, can be kept efficient and lean.

A hands-on digital exhibit resembling a real-life truck gives the chance to take on the role of a workshop mechanic. Visitors can discover what the fuel cell has to say by accessing all important information regarding its health and performance live on a handheld workshop device.

The exhibit allows to experience how these future-oriented diagnostic solutions facilitate the troubleshooting process by providing step-by-step repair manuals for each diagnosed error, turning lengthy workshop visits into short pit stops while supporting location-independent service.  

“ETAS’ end-to-end diagnostic solutions make it possible to utilize the full efficiency potential of commercial trucks: minimal vehicle downtimes and optimized repairs save resources and contribute to the goal of the lowest possible environmental impact of commercial transportation,” says Dr. Thomas Irawan, President ETAS GmbH.

End-to-end solution portfolio for all diagnostics challenges
The web-based and cloud-hosted Grade-X mobile app runs on off-the-shelf tablets without any hardware restrictions. Mechanics can access the fuel cell system via a user-friendly and intuitive interface, without having to study handbooks or call service hotlines. For each diagnosed problem, step-by-step repair instructions are available in the cloud. These instructions are updated regularly thanks to the feedback of troubleshooting data from each workshop device – a functionality which can also be tried out live at the IAA Transportation. “These previously unused synergy effects take diagnostics to a whole new level in terms of efficiency,” says Tobias Friedrich, Portfolio Manager Mobility Services & Solutions at ETAS.

Moreover, manufacturers do not need to worry about creating the vast amount of required content. The skilled team of international domain experts from the ETAS authoring services take this burden off their shoulders – from the development of initial manuals in numerous languages to Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) specific wiring and context relevant repair instructions. They are backed by newest AI-based technologies, for example to automate text updates.

This way, ETAS can cover the complete lifecycle of fuel cells, extensible to the complete vehicle across the needed regions of use.

Apart from fuel cells, this innovative concept can also be applied to all complex components of modern vehicles. The mobile version allows diagnostics to be carried out directly on the vehicle, whether in the workshop or on the road.