Apparatus for tracking and recording vital signs and task-related information of a vehicle to identify operating patterns

An apparatus for recording operation of a vehicle, the apparatus comprising:

• sensors for monitoring production-related parameters of the vehicle, where the parameters include ground speed of the vehicle, a position of a throttle for an engine of the vehicle and a degree of braking by a braking system of the vehicle;
• a first memory for capturing information from one or more of the sensors for monitoring production-related parameters;
• a second memory for receiving the information from the first memory;
• sensors for monitoring vital signs of the vehicle, where the vital signs include a collision of the vehicle;
• a processor in communication with the production-related and vital sign sensors and the first and second memories for transferring into the second memory the information captured by the first memory in response to detection of the collision of the vehicle, where the information includes data from one or more of the production-related parameters before detection of the collision and data from one or more of the vital signs sensors after detection of the collision;
• and
• a transmitter for automatically transmitting a distress signal in response to detection of the collision of the vehicle.

A method for recording operation of a vehicle, the method comprising:

• monitoring production-related parameters of the vehicle, including a ground speed of the vehicle, a position of a throttle for an engine of the vehicle and an on/off status of a braking system of the vehicle;
• monitoring vital sign parameters of the vehicle, including information indicative of a change in the velocity of the vehicle;
• detecting a collision of the vehicle in response to a sudden change in the velocity of the vehicle;
• automatically sending a wireless distress signal from the vehicle in response to detecting the collision;
• and
• capturing the production-related parameters of the vehicle before detection of the collision and the vital sign parameters after detection of the collision.

An apparatus for recording operation of a vehicle, the apparatus comprising:

• sensors for monitoring production-related parameters of the vehicle, where the parameters include ground speed of the vehicle, a position of a throttle for an engine of the vehicle and an on/off status of a braking system of the vehicle;
• a first memory for capturing information from one or more of the sensors for monitoring production-related parameters;
• a second memory for receiving the information from the first memory;
• sensors for monitoring vital signs of the vehicle, where the vital signs include a collision of the vehicle;
• a processor in communication with the production-related and vital sign sensors and the first and second memories for transferring into the second memory the information captured by the first memory in response to detection of the collision of the vehicle, where the information includes data from one or more of the production-related parameters before detection of the collision and data from one or more of the vital signs sensors after detection of the collision;
• and
• a transmitter for automatically transmitting a distress signal in response to detection of the collision of the vehicle.

A method for recording operation of a vehicle, the method comprising:

• monitoring positions of a throttle for an engine for the vehicle and a load carried by the vehicle;
• detecting a collision of the vehicle;
• and
• recording one or more positions of the throttle and a condition of the load preceding the detection of the collision.