LightShip Systems Review - Telematics System

[turbopilot]

Got a little off topic over on the Evotrex forum with a discussion about the LightShip Telematics System. Telematics systems have been common in automotive applications for at least 10 years. But the concept is new for RV's.

First lets define Telematics in mobile applications:

Telematics in automotive applications refers to the integration of telecommunications and informatics (information technology) to enable the collection, transmission, storage, and analysis of data from vehicles.It primarily involves using onboard devices—such as a Telematics Control Unit (TCU) or "black box"—connected to GPS, sensors, and cellular networks to monitor and communicate vehicle information in real time.

The discussion arose over on the Evotrex forum when a participant asked about Starlink integration in the Lightship. Starlink integration is part of the Telematics system. Here is the exchange:

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@turbopilot -

What does it mean on the LightShip or other RVs?

I'll tell you what I know about LightShip Starlink integration and Rory can expand. I was told LightShip has a built in cellular router. The cellular connection if for LightShip support, not customer communication but it does have WiFi that can be used. There is also a built in WAN port on the device that is wired to the AeroHub ethernet port. That is where a Starlink connection would be plugged in. The Atlas tablet system communicates over WiFi to that same cellar router WiFi connection then interfaces with the LightShip CANBUS body controllers.

@Rory (Lightship Team) this was information I got from Ben last April. Let us know if it has changed or if I got anything wrong.

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@Rory (Lightship Team) :

That's spot on, @turbopilot ... the customer won't see/interact with the system as you just described it, but were a customer to setup a starlink device, our vehicle systems could switch over to that starlink system, which may be beneficial for over the air updates etc in terms of speed.

More directly obvious for the customer is this:
- Some starlink setups (like starlink standard model) come with a separate modem/router that need to be kept out of the elements and still wired to an external starlink dish. To make this easy, the Lightship comes with a build in tray under the dinette bench where the customer can a) store the modem/router b) plug in the modem/router to 120V power and c) connect the modem/router to a pre-wired ethernet cable. The ethernet cable accessible in that location then wraps through the internals of the vehicle and connects to the port on the tongue box that turbopilot describes. from there you can plug in the external dish with an ethernet cable to connect the whole system, and position the dish externally to maximize signal.
- other starlink setups (like the starlink mini), come with the modem/router integrated into the dish. in this case, all that is needed is to position the dish externally and plug it in to the 120V outlet on the tongue box for power.

@PhatDaddy does that answer your question? true "integration" is hard to achieve since customers bring their own hardware and starlink subscriptions, and may not be optimal since positioning the dish externally is a benefit for signal.

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@Rory (Lightship Team) :

Here is that area on @turbopilot ´s VIN. Tray, Ethernet, 120V. Plastic on cushions to keep them fresh ahead of delivery! We'll do a thorough clean and detail (exterior/interior) before delivery so please ignore the dust.

So that explains the Starlink input to the LightShip Telematics system. The Telematics system module is located under the seat in back of the hot water heater. Here is what I think is the module sitting in the hot water pan before installation. (Rory correct if wrong)

This module connects to the 6 Canbus body control modules in the LightShip. It takes WiFi input/output to the Atlas tablet to control those modules. It also allows LightShip to update the various body controller modules and troubleshoot issues remotely. When something is not working a LightShip technician can remotely log into your LightShip and see. where the problem is.

Anyone who has owned an RV knows how revolutionary this capability will be for solving problems far from the mothership.

What I don't know is whether the owner will be able to remotely monitor the LightShip systems and cameras via the telematics module. Hopefully @Rory (Lightship Team) can give us some more detail on the capability.

 

[PhatDaddy]

Such great, interesting and in depth information. Thanks @turbopilot. Really enjoying your feedback on all this (although much of it over my head), Also very envious of the access you’ve been provided to the manufacturing and design processes and engineering details at Lightship and how accommodating and open the Lightship team has been during the journey. That contrasts with little detail info from Pebble regarding their Flow trailer. Each company, of course, gets to make the call on how much they share publicly and there is no ‘right’ way. But I can’t help but wonder if it comes back at some level to the DNA of the founding, executive, and engineering management teams at the respective companies… with Lightship’s deeper Tesla and EV automotive industry connections and Pebble's perhaps deeper Apple and consumer electronics background. Those also seem likely to me to possibly explain one company seeming to be more publicly open and ‘move fast and break things’ driven, and the other more ‘proprietary and non-disclosure’ oriented. And notably, one being (at least initially) Android tablet centric and the other iPad centric. Again, great innovative technology from both companies and both moving the future of RVs forward. And both companies have Chinese/Anker-centric Evotrex hot on their heels (although interestingly only Evotrex indicates plans to support Apple CarPlay on their RV-controlling Android tablet?)

 

[Rory (Lightship Team)]

@turbopilot Great stuff!

Yes, what you are calling the central telematics unit... that is our Vehicle Control Unit (VCU); it is one of many boards designed by our in house electrical engineering teams! Actually if you ever get all the way down to that piece of hardware, our team has printed little easter eggs on each (e.g., the office dog)

The VCU is like the "central brain" and then we have other boards controlling each of the other functions... I'm not going to remember them all but taking a crack: drive controller (trekdrive), lighting controller, camera controller, HVAC controller, etc.

Architecturally, we write the "firmware" for each board ("when you get this signal do X with your hardware")
Then we write the software to connect all of them together and send the signals. A lot of what our software team has done is trying to get all these diverse pieces of hardware to talk and work together - it's a monumental task! And it's why traditional RV makers do not connect the units (i.e. you just have all the individual switches and controls on a controls wall).

Yes - the remote monitoring you describe is totally correct! you can see if you vehicle windows are open, doors are locked, battery status etc remotely on your tablet. Sometime this year, we will also release a phone app that gives you more flexibility in monitoring the systems, like many auto companies have these days.

One thing we emphasize is that our product will "always be improving" and doing the hard work of establishing this software and controls system up front allows us to do that longer term.

 

[Rory (Lightship Team)]

Oh yea... that is also a bit of a messy photo there turbopilot haha! our full production process looks much cleaner and will continue to do so. (for instance, generally no rubber mallet and shopvac in there) haha

 

[Rory (Lightship Team)]

Such great, interesting and in depth information. Thanks @turbopilot. Really enjoying your feedback on all this (although much of it over my head), Also very envious of the access you’ve been provided to the manufacturing and design processes and engineering details at Lightship and how accommodating and open the Lightship team has been during the journey. That contrasts with little detail info from Pebble regarding their Flow trailer. Each company, of course, gets to make the call on how much they share publicly and there is no ‘right’ way. But I can’t help but wonder if it comes back at some level to the DNA of the founding, executive, and engineering management teams at the respective companies… with Lightship’s deeper Tesla and EV automotive industry connections and Pebble's perhaps deeper Apple and consumer electronics background. Those also seem likely to me to possibly explain one company seeming to be more publicly open and ‘move fast and break things’ driven, and the other more ‘proprietary and non-disclosure’ oriented. And notably, one being (at least initially) Android tablet centric and the other iPad centric. Again, great innovative technology from both companies and both moving the future of RVs forward. And both companies have Chinese/Anker-centric Evotrex hot on their heels (although interestingly only Evotrex indicates plans to support Apple CarPlay on their RV-controlling Android tablet?)

Appreciate this feedback! We really try to be transparent and forthright with our customers and supporters!

From past import records (https://www.importyeti.com/company/pebble-mobility), it appeared to us that Pebble was outsourcing their build to Anhui Ankai in China (or another coach builder). Perhaps this is part of why they can't show so much of the manufacturing process and internals! Like you say, to each their own in approach.