Vehicle Chips Expected to Cut Costs

Maintainers at Robins AFB, Ga., are testing a new system on 17 of the base’s ground vehicles that will tell them exactly how a vehicle is being used and flag potential problems before major repairs are needed. The Automotive Information Module 2, or AIM2, is a radio frequency chip that is installed on the vehicles. The chips link to receiver stations, such as a gas station, spread throughout the base, reported the Warner Robins Patriot. When an airman fills the tank of a vehicle, the chip will talk to the gas station “repeater,” which records the amount of gas consumed, along with the date and time, as well as, idle usage. The chips also will determine if the vehicle is driven off base, which could save the base significantly at tax time. Robins has to pay a road tax for every vehicle that is driven off base. Currently, officials estimate that number and pay the tax regardless of whether the vehicle left base or not.