More features for the same chips
More functionality for the same price. That is how Martin Callisen, technical project manager at Jönköping company Sensys, sums up the input from Combitech’s consultants that helped the company produce its own IP network for its traffic control systems.
Sensys manufactures and sells traffic control systems in Sweden and the world. Everyone has no doubt seen the speed cameras sited along many of our roads. The individual units (cameras) communicate with the central processing unit via the Internet (IP network) and therefore need exchanges or switches/routers, as they are also known. The problem with third-party switches is that they are either very expensive or the models are frequently replaced.
“If you go to the store where you purchased your router three months ago, it is highly likely that that particular model no longer exists,” says Martin Callisen. That’s how high the turnover rate is.
Sensys decided to develop its own switches and commissioned Combitech to develop both hardware and software.
“As a company, we must have continuity in our systems and we also want them to be in production for at least five years,” says Martin Callisen. Combitech's consultants were therefore appointed at the planning stage of the project. They could, among other things, help with the basic idea of basing the solution on the Linux operating system, in other words, open source code.
Today, there are about a thousand exchanges in operation and more are underway. All are based on the hardware and software developed by Combitech.
Other smart ideas from Combitech included installing integrated alarms in camera cabinets via the IP system – an extra functionality that Sensys got into the bargain, so to speak.
“We are very pleased,” summarizes Martin Callisen, “and we received better value for money than we had expected. Furthermore, we were able to concentrate on our main business instead of spending time on a support system.”