OTR PERFORMANCE

TECHNOLOGIES

NativeScript, Bootstrap 3, PHP, mySQL

THE SOLUTION

Logic Solutions was awarded the contract at the end of 2018 based on our expertise in UI/UX design, our experience developing a wide array of custom Android and iOS solutions, extensive web application development and database experience. Logic designed and developed an aesthetically pleasing, easy-to-use, safe, reliable, Android application called OTR DigitalDash and a web-based admin portal for the client’s essential administrative functions.

Application Design

Logic applied UX and UI design best practices, researched the needs of vehicle operators, and reviewed client requirements to create a visual design and user interface that is attractive and easy-to-use, but all about practical functionality and usability at its core. The overall experience of OTR DigitalDash is frustration-free, safe, and satisfying with the following features:

• Dark Mode – The entire application was designed in “dark mode”, a dark, low contrast aesthetic that protects the eyes of vehicle operators from fatigue, and eliminates dangerous distractions when driving in low light conditions.
• Customizable Live-Data Feeds – One of the core functions of DigitalDash is to deliver live vehicle data feeds, customizable by the vehicle operator. Logic designed a numerical data-tile view, an attractive gauge view, and a split data-tile and fault-code view. These designs allow up to 8 simultaneously-delivered data feeds to be displayed while allowing the vehicle operator to easily choose which data-feeds are present and where they are placed through an intuitive touch-screen interface. Data feeds include:
  • Engine oil levels
  • Engine speed (RPMs)
  • DPF (diesel particulate filter) soot levels
  • Engine oil temperature
  • Engine oil pressure
  • Engine regen status
  • Engine load percentage
  • Boost pressure
• Fault Code Display and Reset – Fault-codes from the vehicle are displayed in an attractive, chronological display, that includes fault code reference numbers and detailed descriptions. The application design allows for a high-level display of all fault-codes for quick reference, and deeper dives into information on the nature of the faults and when they occurred. This allows drivers to keep track of patterns in vehicle performance and stay one step ahead of maintenance issues.
• Safety and Usability – Logic designed DigitalDash’s user-interfaces with extreme care to assist users with quickly and easily accessing data and maintenance functions through a clearly-labeled navigation bar. Logic included clear indicators and instructions throughout the app, such as:
  • Well-defined prompts that require user confirmation to progress through multi-step maintenance functions.
  • Warnings and instructions dominate the entire screen when the user is about to take any action that could harm the vehicle if done improperly, and confirmation is required to continue.
  • Possible actions are clearly defined on each application screen through consistent labeling and button styling.
  • Touch-screen button targets are carefully sized to make sure buttons and functions are easy to tap with a finger.

Application Development

Logic’s experienced development team engineered a smooth-functioning Android tablet application that gives vehicle operators control over vehicle data and maintenance. The team worked and communicated closely with OTR and 3rd parties to implement evolving needs, and emerged with an Android-based touch-screen application that truly empowers vehicle operators to stay on top of their vehicle data and save precious time and money. A variety of technologies and integrations were necessary, along with great internal and client communication, to bring DigitalDash to life, including:

• NativeScript Framework – In order to provide a future-proof application development solution that is able to function natively in both Android and iOS, Logic employed the NativeScript framework. This JavaScript framework provided a flexible, forward-thinking, solution to the varied application requirements. Although the current project is only for Android tablets, OTR might include additional iOS functionality in the future.
• 3rd Party Firmware and API Integration – Logic integrated a 3rd-party library, custom firmware, and an API solution to allow the application to communicate seamlessly with vehicle hardware and provide a wide array of live-data feeds and fault-code reporting information.
• Client Device Integration – OTR’s popular DTC + AFT reset functionality tool allows vehicle operators to execute dealer-level maintenance functions like forced engine regeneration and fault-code resets. Vehicular data from DTC + AFT feeds into an existing ELD connector that was plugged into the vehicle’s J1939 port. Logic created DigitalDash to connect to the ELD via Bluetooth to grab information about the vehicle’s performance and display it to the truck’s operator on DigitalDash’s intuitive interface.

Admin Web Portal

Logic quickly identified a cost-effective and highly-functional admin solution for OTR to add/manage users and manage Android application versions. The application is not published on the Google Play store, so OTR needed a way to send application updates to all users. Other key features of the admin portal include:

• PHP backend – Logic developed a custom PHP back-end for the Admin site, ensuring reliable data access and storage.
• mySQL database – data storage was inside of a mySQL database.
• Admin LTE – A Bootstrap 3 solution was utilized to develop a web-based admin front-end that provides all necessary admin functionality without re-inventing the wheel.

“Logic Solutions has been great from start to finish with the follow through with the project. We had weekly meetings to ensure the project was going according to plan. I am thankful that we hired Logic Solutions for this project and look forward to seeing where this project takes us.” – Jason Chise, President of OTR Performance

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