AN EVALUATION OF THE AUTOMATIC BUS DIAGNOSTIC SYSTEM DEMONSTRATION PROGRAM

Automatic bus diagnostic system (ABDS) is a microprocessor-based test and diagnostic tool that permits rapid sequential inspection and fault isolation of diesel buses. The purpose of the ABDS is to improve both the efficiency of daily bus operations and the 6,000 mile scheduled inspection testing operations, and the effectiveness of bus maintenance for the New York City Transit Authority (NYCTA). The study covered a 10 month period (12 months for installing and calibrating ABDS equipment; and 7 months as the basis for the evaluation). Forty buses were instrumented for ABDS (an Experimental Group) and another forty buses used as a Control Group. Data collected included information on the number and cost of various items: repair events; repair hours; number and cost of road calls; and number and cost of parts used in the maintenance of the buses. This report describes the evaluation of the ABDS performed by the Sperry Corp. at the NYCTA. The report describes and presents the results obtained and the recommendations made. Additional information outlining the background of the study and the nature of the equipment is also supplied as well as references to other studies. Although the report concludes that the ABDS cannot be considered the sole reason for the poorer performance of the Experimental Group, it does recommend that 1) the study be repeated for a full year after reselection of Experimental and Control Groups of buses, and 2) if the test cannot be repeated, then the ABDS in its present configuration is not recommended for installation as an operational system.

• Corporate Authors:

  Sperry Corporation

  Electronic Systems
  Great Neck, NY  United States  11020

  Urban Mass Transportation Administration

  400 7th Street, SW
  Washington, DC  United States  20590
• Publication Date: 1983-9

Media Info

• Pagination: n.p.

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Automation; Buses; Data collection; Diagnosis; Diagnostic tests; Information processing; Instrumentation; Maintenance management; Maintenance practices; Management information systems; Microprocessors; Performance evaluations; Planning; Reliability; Sensors; Testing; Vehicle maintenance
• Identifier Terms: New York City Transit Authority
• Uncontrolled Terms: Bus maintenance
• Old TRIS Terms: Umta section 8
• Subject Areas: Highways; Maintenance and Preservation; Planning and Forecasting; Public Transportation; Vehicles and Equipment; I95: Vehicle Inspection;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00386293
• Record Type: Publication
• Report/Paper Numbers: UMTA-IT-09-0034 Final Rpt.
• Files: TRIS, USDOT
• Created Date: Jul 30 1984 12:00AM