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Intelligent Mechatronic Systems Inc.

Intelligent Mechatronic Systems Inc. (IMS) is a Waterloo, Canada-based corporation that designs and produces a myriad of automotive telematics products, including DriveSync and various Usage-Based Insurance (UBI) technologies. The firm was founded in 1999 by Dr. Otman Basir. Today, its portfolio includes more than 140 patents related to the high-tech automotive market. Intelligent Mechatronic Systems currently employs roughly one hundred employees. Most of these employees work out of the company’s Waterloo, Ontario, headquarters, though some IMS team members are based in the United States and the Middle East.

History

Intelligent Mechatronic Systems Inc. was founded in 1999 by Dr. Otman Basir, who currently serves as the firm’s chief executive officer and president. Dr. Basir is also an engineering professor at the University of Waterloo, where his research interests include adhoc sensor networks, sensor fusion and integration, and machine vision. He has won a number of awards for his work, including the Ontario Premier Research Excellence Award, the Canada Foundation for Innovation Award, and the University of Guelph’s Academic Leadership Award. Products

Intelligent Mechatronic Systems Inc.’s consumer products include the DriveSync platform, IMS Young Drivers Intelligence, and IMS iLane. DriveSync is an in-car infotainment platform designed to keep drivers connected with the world around them, including their mobile devices. DriveSync components include a mobile application that connects a driver with their smartphone, a community portal that allows users to access a unique social network, and in-car UBI telematics (via OBD-2 device). IMS says the goal of the DriveSync platform is to blend the best of several different mobile technologies, including automotive telematics, infotainment, and social media.

DriveSync employs a ‘tap-and-talk’ interface that allows users to send text messages and emails, access Internet radio stations, and keep in touch with their various social networks, including Facebook and Twitter.

A recent addition to the DriveSync platform is Powered by DriveSync, which is designed to give users access to a wide range of connected car technologies, including business service upgrades, voice-powered infotainment services, and safety telematics services. The idea is to combine various DriveSync features, from traffic monitoring to Internet radio and trip reports. The IMS Young Drivers Intelligence program uses the DriveSync platform’s telematics capabilities to track the on-road behaviour of young drivers. The program is designed to allow parents to use collected data related to a young driver’s braking, acceleration, and cornering, to develop smart coaching techniques.

IMS iLane is a voice-powered in-car infotainment platform. It is intended to allow drivers to access popular mobile applications from their smartphones without removing their hands from a steering wheel. The iLane system, which was originally released in 2009, can also place phone calls using only voice commands. Reviews of iLane have been generally positive, with New York Times technology expert David Pogue calling the device “heaven-sent” for “anyone who sits in traffic to and from work every day.”

Usage-Based Insurance

Intelligent Mechatronic Systems is focusing much of its current research on the expansion of automotive telematics and Usage-Based Insurance (UBI) programs. IMS’ research in this area involves the development of technologies capable of tracking drivers’ on-road behaviour in an effort to develop more accurate insurance coverage. IMS is currently involved in UBI projects with some of North America’s largest insurance carriers.

IMS is using new interest in automotive telematics to branch out into commercial vehicle management. One of its newest programs is called IMS Fleet Intelligence, which provides commercial shipping companies with an accurate tool for tracking driver activity. The program allows firms to receive notifications detailing a commercial driver’s on-road behaviour, including speeding, acceleration, and braking. IMS Fleet Intelligence can also be used to provide commercial shipping companies with a clear picture of each vehicle’s fuel consumption and overall maintenance.

Other IMS automotive telematics projects include IMS Traffic Intelligence, IMS Road Charging Intelligence, IMS UBI Intelligence, and IMS Premium Services.