Heavy Equipment Telematics, Machine Guidance, and Fleet Data Analytics

This advanced course equips technicians with the skills required to integrate, calibrate, and troubleshoot mobile telematics systems and satellite-guided machine automation on modern heavy equipment. Students examine global navigation satellite systems (GNSS), inertial measurement units, and base station corrections utilized for millimeter-accurate grade and excavation guidance. The curriculum bridges cyber-physical systems by detailing how digital site design files and real-time kinematic positioning interact directly with electro-hydraulic valve drivers to automate implement motion. Participants explore telematics hardware architectures, wireless data link protocols, and remote diagnostic gateways that harvest Controller Area Network (CAN) parameters. Extensive focus is placed on translating raw machine operational data into actionable insights for fleet utilization, predictive maintenance, and fuel efficiency optimization. Through rigorous diagnostic procedures, students master methods to isolate communication dropouts, antenna multipath interference, sensor drift, and valve calibration offsets to ensure reliable automated operations under demanding jobsite conditions.

InstructorJacob Calhoun

Prerequisites

HEH 105 HEH 110

Course outline

Lectures, virtual labs, and graded assignments — completed in your browser.

01Lesson 1: Telematics Hardware Architecture and Mobile Cellular-Satellite Transceiverslecture

02Lesson 2: GNSS Principles, Real-Time Kinematic Positioning, and Base Station Setuplecture

03Lesson 3: Machine Orientation Sensors and Inertial Measurement Unit Calibrationlecture

04Hands-on Lab: Telematics Gateway and Antenna Array Installation and Testinglab

05Lesson 5: Digital Terrain Models and 3D Jobsite Coordinate Localizationlecture

06Lesson 6: Interfacing Positioning Data with Electro-Hydraulic Valve Controllerslecture

07Lesson 7: Automated Grade Control Systems and Implement Closed-Loop Responselecture

08Hands-on Lab: 3D Guidance System Calibration and Implement Elevation Benchmarkinglab

09Lesson 9: Remote Diagnostics, Fleet Telematics Portals, and CAN Bus Data Capturelecture

10Lesson 10: Machine Utilization Tracking, Geofencing, and Idle Time Data Analysislecture

11Hands-on Lab: Telematics Data Extraction and CAN Fault Code Diagnosticslab

12Lesson 12: Predictive Maintenance Modeling and Fuel Consumption Analyticslecture

13Lesson 13: Diagnosing Satellite Latency, Signal Multipath, and Hydraulic Laglecture

14Capstone Service Project: Turnkey Guidance and Telematics Commissioningassignment

Syllabus

["Week 1: Lesson 1: Telematics Hardware Architecture and Mobile Cellular-Satellite Transceivers", "Week 2: Lesson 2: GNSS Principles, Real-Time Kinematic Positioning, and Base Station Setup", "Week 3: Lesson 3: Machine Orientation Sensors and Inertial Measurement Unit Calibration", "Week 4: Hands-on Lab: Telematics Gateway and Antenna Array Installation and Testing", "Week 5: Lesson 5: Digital Terrain Models and 3D Jobsite Coordinate Localization", "Week 6: Lesson 6: Interfacing Positioning Data with Electro-Hydraulic Valve Controllers", "Week 7: Lesson 7: Automated Grade Control Systems and Implement Closed-Loop Response", "Week 8: Hands-on Lab: 3D Guidance System Calibration and Implement Elevation Benchmarking", "Week 9: Lesson 9: Remote Diagnostics, Fleet Telematics Portals, and CAN Bus Data Capture", "Week 10: Lesson 10: Machine Utilization Tracking, Geofencing, and Idle Time Data Analysis", "Week 11: Hands-on Lab: Telematics Data Extraction and CAN Fault Code Diagnostics", "Week 12: Lesson 12: Predictive Maintenance Modeling and Fuel Consumption Analytics", "Week 13: Lesson 13: Diagnosing Satellite Latency, Signal Multipath, and Hydraulic Lag", "Week 14: Capstone Service Project: Turnkey Guidance and Telematics Commissioning"]