Definition - What does On-board Diagnostics mean?
On-board diagnostics, or OBD, refers to a computerized system featuring an assembly of integrative hardware components and database protocol configurations designed for monitoring and streamlining a vehicle’s performance on the road. In the 1980s, the OBD-1 system was a prototype to help mechanics troubleshoot problems; however, the OBD-2 system has remained the industry standard since 1996, patching diagnostic scanners with vehicle models housing conformable OBD instrumentation.
SureHire explains On-board Diagnostics
For many employers, on-board diagnostics represents the linchpin for businesses that operate fleet outfits. On-board diagnostics consolidate multi-use applications necessary to ensure safe driving techniques covering GPS tracking, fuel economy, and geofencing, or the radial distance of travel. A basic OBD system consists of an Electronic Control Unit (ECU), acting as the motherboard with an array of sensors connecting distinctive input service relay ports to alert drivers of potential issues, for example, the Malfunction Indicator Light (MIL). Generally, mechanics utilize a scan tool to plug a Diagnostic Link Connector (DIL) located in many modern vehicles, retrieving coded information associated with defective components in the vehicle’s hardware apparatus.
Innovative on-board diagnostics technology serves as a viable approach to modulating fleet operations, backed by study reports analyses highlighting factors including business prospects, customer satisfaction, productivity, and overall safety to retain a solid driving reputation. Employers can draw on positive assessment strategies by informing employees to engage real-time data comparison analytics by toggling between customized reports on a handheld device (i.e., cell phone, camera) and a logistical format. This approach incentivizes businesses to partner with insurance companies, holistically pooling fleet managers and employees to refer to OBD data resources to remain on par with safe driving habits and motor vehicle performance standards. The use of on-board diagnostics is a cost-effective measure, helping to deter negligent driving, controlling mileage expenditures, and optimizing engine utility through synchronized input data feedback to personnel, offsetting liability risks.