Communication helps make sense of problems

Sensors that link engines and hydraulics to the outside world provide data that can be used to analyze performance and the cause of failures.

The number of modules linked to CAN networks has exploded in recent years, making a wealth of diagnostic information far more accessible. That trend is being leveraged in many ways, as systems gather more data and look to telematics to make it even more useful.

Such information makes it much simpler for systems to diagnose errors, letting operators decide if they can continue to operate. If not, this data makes it much simpler for maintenance personnel to get equipment back up and running. As design engineers grow ever more comfortable with the reliability of this information, its usage is expected to explode.