IT integration in campers – comfort & savings

Modern Software in Automotive

Research shows that modern infotainment systems and the integration of mobile applications with embedded systems in contemporary cars play a significant role in the sale of new vehicles. According to one report, as many as 90% of vehicles sold in 2030 will be connected to the internet, and 40% of customers would consider purchasing a car from a different brand if it offers better IT solutions.

However, customer satisfaction is not the only reason why car manufacturers decide to introduce modern IT systems. Post-sale benefits for manufacturers, who can stay in touch with the customer by offering new services and products, also play a role. Additionally, manufacturers can remotely update the software in the car and monitor its technical condition and usage. According to researchers from ABI Research, the market for remote software update services in cars has the potential to reach over 20 billion dollars by 2030.

The Camper Market in the Context of Modern IT Solutions

Similar to passenger cars, the camper market is also benefiting from modern IT solutions. Contemporary campers are equipped with infotainment systems, air conditioning, heating, and safety systems, which are usually integrated only with functions provided by the chassis manufacturer. Camper bodies consist of many different devices that require monitoring and control:

• White, gray, and black water tanks: These require level monitoring to avoid unexpected depletion. Additionally, water tanks have valves that can be electrically controlled.
• Gas bottles: These require monitoring of supply levels and valve control to prevent leaks.
• Refrigerators: These need temperature control based on weather conditions and power supply, as well as the ability to notify if the door is left open.
• Heating: This requires temperature control and fuel level monitoring. Additionally, the heating system can be integrated with the air conditioning system. A mobile app can allow remote control of heating before returning to the camper.
• Movable elements: Such as awnings, stairs, etc., require control for extending and retracting.
• Hotel batteries: These require charge level monitoring and management of parking power. Additionally, batteries can be charged using photovoltaic panels, and their power can be displayed in the app.

Campers, campervans, and caravans share many similarities with another market of advanced IT solutions - smart homes. In both cases, we are dealing with a living space equipped with many electronic devices that can be integrated and controlled via a single system. Such integration allows for increased user comfort and the addition of entirely new functions that would not be possible with separate systems.

Currently, there are not many solutions on the market that offer full integration of electronic systems in campers. Usually, such solutions are offered only by the largest manufacturers who closely cooperate with chassis manufacturers. An example of a vehicle with such solutions is the Volkswagen California, which offers control of all body functions via a single factory system. Smaller companies that build campers usually do not have the capability to offer such solutions.

Benefits for Manufacturers and Users

Usage Statistics

Smart systems can collect data on vehicle usage, such as the frequency of using individual functions, the ratio of driving time to the use of body functions, the state of water or gas tanks, and more. This allows the manufacturer to better understand the user's needs and tailor the offer to actual needs based on data.

Cost Reduction

Integrating electronic systems in a camper allows for replacing many physical devices with a single system that can control all body functions. This means the manufacturer does not have to design and produce many individual devices, significantly reducing project and production costs. Moreover, the manufacturer can transfer the control of some functions to a mobile application, completely eliminating physical control units.

Predictive Maintenance and Repairs

Modern IT systems allow for monitoring the technical condition of the vehicle and service intervals. This enables the manufacturer to predict when a component requires service or replacement, allowing for planned maintenance in advance. Additionally, the manufacturer can remotely diagnose faults and send software updates.

User Satisfaction and Additional Revenue Streams

Notifications about upcoming service dates and available software updates can be sent to the user via a mobile application, creating an additional channel for selling services. Offering authorized service services can increase customer satisfaction and manufacturer profits.

Remote Software Updates

Remote software updates allow for quick responses to software errors and the introduction of new functions without the need for a service visit. Additionally, remote software updates enable the production of vehicles with beta software versions that can be updated later. This allows the manufacturer to bring a new vehicle model to market faster.

System Implementation

Integrating many electronic systems in a camper into a single central system requires experience in various fields, such as embedded systems, industrial communication protocols like CAN, mobile application programming, and consumer wireless communication systems like Bluetooth. The visual and user experience (UX/UI) aspects should also not be overlooked.

Central Control Unit

The central control unit is the heart of the smart camper system. It is extremely important for the device to be energy-efficient and reliable. It should support communication protocols to communicate with various devices that make up the camper body:

• CAN/LIN - Controller Area Network, Local Interconnect Network, a standard in automotive, enabling communication between devices in the vehicle. In the case of a camper, CAN can be used to communicate with the chassis on which the camper is built.
• Modbus - a communication protocol used in industry, enabling communication between devices. Modbus can be used to communicate with devices such as heating controllers, refrigerators, etc.
• RS-485 - a serial communication standard, enabling communication between devices over long distances. In the case of a camper, RS-485 can be used to communicate with external devices such as photovoltaic panels, awning controllers, etc.
• Bluetooth - a wireless communication technology, enabling communication with mobile devices such as smartphones and tablets. Bluetooth can be used for remote control of body functions and reading data via a mobile application.
• Wi-Fi - a wireless communication technology, enabling communication with external devices such as routers, servers, etc. Wi-Fi can be used to control body functions and read data via a mobile application, but also as an internet source for camper users.
• LTE-M - a wireless communication technology, enabling devices to communicate with the internet via a cellular network. LTE-M can be used for remote control of body functions when Bluetooth or Wi-Fi coverage is insufficient.

Depending on the needs, the unit can be based on a mini-computer such as Raspberry Pi, BeagleBone, or similar Linux-based systems. These devices are very versatile and have high computational capabilities. This allows them to support standard technologies such as Java, Python, Node.js, etc. This makes it possible to use ready-made libraries and frameworks, speeding up the implementation process.

An alternative is a microcontroller such as ESP32, STM32, Nordic nRF52, which is much more energy-efficient and cheaper but has limited computational capabilities. Implementation on a microcontroller requires more low-level programming in languages such as C, C++, or Assembler, which increases implementation costs.

The central unit can be connected to devices that make up the camper body, such as:

• White, gray, and black water level sensors with valve control,
• Gas bottle fill level sensor,
• Waeco refrigerator control,
• Truma, Webasto, or Eberspächer heating control,
• Built-in audio system,
• Lighting system,
• Suspension leveling,
• Alarm system,
• Control of retractable elements such as awnings, stairs, etc.,
• Parking power system with battery charge level monitoring and solar panel support,
• And many others.

Tablet or Touch Screen

A tablet or touch screen integrated into the body connects to the central control unit and allows for controlling body functions and reading data. Depending on the needs, the screen can be based on Android, iOS, or Linux, and the application can be written in technologies such as Flutter, React Native, or React. Part of the application code can be shared with the mobile application.

It is important for the screen to be energy-efficient, weather-resistant, and have appropriate brightness and resolution. Additionally, the application and hardware should be designed to ensure smooth operation and not degrade over time.

Mobile Application

The mobile application should connect to the central control unit via Bluetooth or Wi-Fi and allow for remote control of body functions, reading sensor data, and accessing user manuals. Additionally, the application can feature an intelligent assistant based on artificial intelligence to help the user operate the camper and suggest additional services.

On the other hand, the mobile application connects to the backend infrastructure, sending data from the camper and receiving notifications from the manufacturer and marketing materials. It is also possible to equip the system with internet connectivity, allowing for remote control and monitoring of the camper from anywhere.

Backend Infrastructure

The backend infrastructure collects data from the camper and the mobile application and serves as a database powering the mobile application and enabling the creation of a CRM system to manage customers and offer additional services. Additionally, the backend infrastructure can be used for data analysis and report generation to better understand customer needs.

Our Experience

In our team, we combine expertise in embedded systems, mobile and web applications, and backend systems. We place particular emphasis on UX/UI design to ensure the best user experience, as we know that even the best implementation will not yield the desired results if it is not properly designed.

Our multidisciplinary team, combining competencies from many fields, allows us to execute projects faster and more efficiently because we do not have to rely on external subcontractors. This saves time and money for the client while ensuring the highest quality of execution.

Summary

Integrating electronic systems in a camper increases user comfort, reduces production and service costs, and adds new functions that would not be possible with separate systems. This allows the manufacturer to better understand user needs, predict maintenance and repairs, and offer additional services that increase customer satisfaction and manufacturer profits.