Hella APC Overview
The APC Maintenance Guide provides an overview of the installed counters for use by property maintenance staff. Additionally, this document provides troubleshooting steps for common failure modes as well as the recommended preventative maintenance required to ensure the devices continue to function reliably.
Description
The Automatic People Counter (APC) counts people boarding and leaving the bus. It reports this information to the In-Vehicle Logic Unit, which then send this data to the Avail CAD/AVL system to be stored and reported on. The particular device installed on Foothill Transit buses is the Hella APC-R. It uses cameras (see graphic below) to identify and count people as they pass through a defined area virtually drawn on the floor of the door areas.
Hella APCs Model R
Electrical Connections
The Power Distribution (power filter) slot labeled APC power is sending power to AVL fuse block. This power from AVL fuse block is then ran to Hella APC units individually. A 2amp fuse on AVL fuse block helps protect units from power surge. Ethernet interface cable will used to make communication with Hella APC and Network Switch. A connection is made at (Green) X4 port on APC and opposite end of ethernet cable plugs into Network Switch. Network Switch and power supply are on the same plate, locations may vary across bus model and year.
Diagram
Power Requirements
Each Hella APC receives 12 VDC from the AVL fuse block in the equipment cabinet. The APCs input range is 12V-24V, but the recommended nominal voltage is 12 VDC. Each APC unit is expected to consume 4W (330mA at 12V DC).
Power Filter and Fuse Block Diagram
Network Connections
Hella APC-Rs use an ethernet connection to communicate with the other CAD/AVL equipment in the bus using a network switch that is in the same location of AVL fuse block powering Hella APC. A maintenance connection to the network switch should be made using a standard ethernet cable and a laptop.
Jumper Settings
The Hella APC-Rs use unique jumper settings to distinguish which door on the bus the unit is mounted above. Each unit installed in a bus requires this setting.
Configuration Interface
The Hella APC-Rs are connected to the in-vehicle network via ethernet. This means that once the correct jumper position has been set, connecting to and configuring the units can be accomplished without removing them from their mounting brackets. Java will need to be installed onto PC or laptop used to service Hella APC. Avail will install a Hella APC Applet onto PC or laptop being used for maintenance of APC. Java Runtime Environment (version 6 or higher) is a prerequisite. No other supplementary software programs are required.
How to Connect to Unit
Connect to the in-vehicle Local Area Network (LAN) by plugging one end of an ethernet cable into a laptop or PC and the other end into the network switch mounted inside the bus equipment cabinet. An application for configuring and troubleshooting the APC’s over the ethernet network will be installed on maintenance laptops. This application is called the Hella-APC-HMI-applet.
Device IPv4 Address:
1. Enter the IP address of the APC sensor that corresponds with the doors listed below. NOTE only one door can be accessed at a time.
- Front Door: 192.168.0.49
- Middle Door (60FT BUSES): 192.168.0.41
- Rear Door: 192.168.0.50
2. HTTP Server Username: counter
3. HTTP Server Password: counter
Configuring APC Cameras
1. Hella APC screen will pop up in top left corner of the screen. Under Configuration click Basic Settings. In first tool bar 1. Mounting & Orientation Under Parameter enter Height in CM, measuring from the floor to actual APC in straight line. Enter Pitch angle by using a tool or app from phone. Press Save when done.
2. Second tool bar. Counting Area press Straighten Out. Use mouse to adjust yellow rectangle inside door area where passengers walk & not in any red shaded area. Press Save when done.
Double Door/No Swing Arm
3. Third tool bar. Counting Gates under counting mode settings One Count Per Crossing should be checked. (Note single doors NO Door Masking, Double doors YES for Door Masking). Inside yellow rectangle adjust red line & set to the edge of bus where passengers step off. Or border where step off and door meets. Press Save when done. Verify red line is not on door arms.
Single Door/Swing Arm
Third tool bar. Counting Gates under counting mode settings One Count Per Crossing should be checked. (Note single doors NO Door Masking, Double doors YES for Door Masking). Inside yellow rectangle adjust green line & set to the edge of arm when door is in closed position. Press Save when done.
4. Left side of the screen under Configurations tap Advanced Settings, then look for second tool bar Disparity Image, verify blue square is as far over to the left-side.
5. Fourth tool bar Stairs Handling at the top. Make sure Usage is enabled and Case A is used. Measure from step edge to ground and enter in MM in H1 in a negative format. Measure about a foot out from the edge then measure to the edge in an angle. You can also use 250 mm for this. Again, adjust red line in yellow rectangle to edge of bus where passengers step off. Or border where step off and door meets. Press Save when done.
6. Fifth tool bar Minimal Hight, verify it's 1,000.
7. Sixth tool bar Reference Image, verify all corners are as close as possible in both pictures.
8. ONLY ON NABI BUSES WITH FRONT DOOR SWING ARM
Left side of the screen under Configurations tap Communication settings, The fourth tool bar Digital Input. Verify start delay is 1000. Stop delay 0.
Follow steps 1-8 after entering an IP address for each individual door, and a Username & Password.
(Some instructions are bus specific)
Troubleshooting
Common Failure Points:
- Door switch problems
- Power supply and electrical issues
- Sensor positioning
- Obstructions of lenses
- Communication issues
- Reflective materials
Troubleshooting Chart
Preventative Maintenance
- Optimal counting accuracy can be achieved only if the view of the camera is not obstructed. Check the housing from the outside for dirt, scratches, and stickers at regular intervals. Clean the housing and the glass, if necessary. If the housing and glass are dirty, use a cloth and commonly available neutral cleaners that are diluted with water can be used. DO NOT use cleaning agents containing solvents (organic solvents e.g. gasoline, acetone, petroleum, turpentine, etc.).
- Over time, vibrations may alter the alignment of the APC’s cameras. Verify and adjust the camera settings as needed.
Verify APC Counting Accuracy
Wheelchair Ramp Deployment Check
If the APC configuration is incorrect, or the orientation of the APC cameras has shifted due to vibrations, the deployment of the wheelchair ramp may be counted as a board or alight. The following steps are used to test the deployment of the wheelchair ramp to see if it is affecting the overall counting accuracy.
- Apply power to the vehicle to be used in this case. Allow the Avail system to boot up and complete self-diagnostics.
- Enter the maintenance screen, then the Admin menu.
- Navigate to the APC/Odo screen.
- Clear the current APC counts using the “Clear” button. After this is done, be sure that no one enters or leaves the bus, as this will affect the counts, and the clearing of the AOC will need to be performed again
- Cycle the wheelchair ramp using the vehicle controls 10 times; fully extending the ramp. Use the “Get APC Count” button and verify that both the boards and alights count remains at 0.
- If the counts are not 0, use the steps in section 2 to adjust the APC settings.
APC Boards & Alights Checks
Use the steps below to count boards and alights. This procedure is used to determine the counting accuracy and decide if further investigation and configuring is required.
- Before proceeding, verify that all APCs are installed on the bus. If not, negotiate a different vehicle with the Dispatch or Maintenance office.
- Power the bus on and allow the system to fully boot. Monitor the automated diagnostics for APC communication errors, address any that exist. Then proceed to the maintenance screen of the MDT.
- Navigate to the APC/Odo tab of the maintenance screen. Clear any counts current in the system. After this is done, be sure that no one enters or leaves the bus, as this will affect the counts, and the clearing of the APC will need to be performed again
- Perform 10 boards and alight by walking through the front door and exiting the rear door.
- After the 10 boards/alights has been completed, and the get count button pressed (be sure no one enters the bus until the button is pressed the final time after 10 boards/alights), mark the results below:
Boards: ______ Alights: ______
Calculate the percent error using the follow equation:
((Board count – 10)/ 10) * 100 ________
((Alight count – 10)/10) * 100 ________
- If the result of the percent error calculations above, for both boards and alights, are higher than 10%, investigate the settings of the individual APC and verify the alignment of the APC cameras.
Business Intelligence APC Reports
- Agency Planners can refer to Business Intelligence reporting metrics to identify needs
- ETMS> Business Intelligence > Planning & Scheduling > Farebox & APCs > Filter on APCs > Vehicles
- Maintenance staff can refer to the Maintenance Dashboard report to review metrics for boards/ alights health
- ETMS> Search for 'Maintenance Dashboard'
- Maintenance Dashboard article: Maintenance Dashboard
- Reporting is located in the Operation product suite
Customer Portal
Use the Customer Portal to RMA a non-functioning unit, after testing to verify and confirm its failure: https://www.availtecportal.com/